Costa Blanca Olive Press - Issue 1 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

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Vol. 1 Issue 1

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March 28th - April 10th 2019

HOUSE RULES ANXIOUS expats breathed a sigh of relief this week after Parliament voted to wrestle back control of the Brexit process in yet another humiliation for Theresa May. The fresh blow for the British Prime Minister has put the future of a million expats in Europe firmly into the hands of MPs, who are expected to vote against a hard Brexit. It comes after thousands of expats joined a million marchers at a mas-

What drove this expat to cut off his member? Page 7

Celebrating the end of the Spanish Civil War Page 14

Costa Blanca home is voted best in Europe Page 20

Olive Press reviews Madrid’s hot new hotel Page 26

sive anti-Brexit protest in London at the weekend. “It was great to be there making history I hope,” said Sue Wilson of Bremain in Spain. “It is not the first time we have voted with our feet, but it was our biggest ever march contingent,” she added. “It was a sign of commitment that so

Border battle as nuisance neighbour forced to cut down intrusive cypress trees

go awry with his neighbours, who he insists refused to be friendly ‘from the outset’. Capps, who trained as a paramedic, claims the neighbour’s four dogs barked continually and their owner hid inside the house whenever approached. Despite calling in the Guardia Civil to investigate and contacting the mayor of Benissa for help, he said the neighbour refused to negotiate a compromise. A letter to the town hall, seen by the Olive Press, pleaded for help, insisting the man was deliberately threatening them and that he carried a gun.

EXCLUSIVE By Joshua Parfitt

AN expat is celebrating after his nuisance neighbour was told to trim a row of ‘intrusive’ trees, following an Olive Press probe. American expat Gordon Capps, 59, is overjoyed after police confirmed they had ordered his Portuguese neighbour to cut the line of cypress trees to just 1.5 metres in height. Capps had sought our help after the ‘disturbed’ 30-something neighbour planted a dozen trees alongside his garden fence, threatening to block his stunning views of the Sierra de Bernia y Ferrer. The 59-year-old film worker said the move was the ‘last straw’ in a bizarre ongoing feud with the neighbour, who he claims recently approached him with a rifle on his shoulder. “It feels like he’s putting up 12 middle fingers at us,” Gordon,

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As well as asking the town hall to check if he had a licence for the rifle, the September 2018 missive asked if local police could speak to him about his dogs. Capps claimed he was ‘worried for his life’ and that the neighbour appeared to have ‘mental health issues’. Another neighbour, Spaniard Jaime Serra Ortola, 43, has also denounced the neighbour for ‘death threats’ against him and his dog. “I’ve denounced him countless times and the police have twice been round. It’s fair to say he is unhinged,” he told the Olive Press. The feud began when Capps put up a low bamboo fence to create some privacy from the neighbour who spied on him while swimming, and then reacted furiously, screaming ‘this is war!’ Capps now fears the trees will not only block his view, but the roots could destroy his pool. The Olive Press was unable to speak to the neighbour, despite various visits.

WELCOME

www.theolivepress.es

We’re here to make a change

T has only taken five years, but the Olive Press Costa Blanca edition has finally arrived. Half a decade of research and planning - and with something of a recession to contend with in the interim - we hope you like the look of our investigative, community newspaper, designed for expats of ALL nationalities across Alicante and Valencia. With a dynamic mix of news stories, investigations, features, reviews and columns, we hope you see the difference between us and our rivals.

Pets

Already well established in Andalucia, Gibraltar and Mallorca, our website has covered the whole of Spain for over a decade and counts on nearly 20.000 visitors a day. The fourth newspaper in the (now) fast-growing Olive Press stable, we launch with a number of promises to you, the readers. FIRSTLY, we vow to serve up

Welcome

From Olive Press publisher Jon Clarke an original and varied mix of articles, fortnighly, that will be relevent to anyone living here, or who is a regular visitor. SECONDLY, our team of fully-qualified NCTJ-trained journalists are able to help in anything you feel should be covered, be it corruption, the environment, politics, your neighbours... or just your pets! We expect you to contact us if you see anything untoward, or something that needs tackling. Within reason, of course. THIRDLY, we promise to deliver a paper with a 50/50 editorial/advertising split, something sadly rarely seen these days. This, of course, means our prices are higher than our rivals, but we are able to guarantee a better presentation of adverts... not to mention a much longer shelf-life for their businesses.

Our content When it comes to content, we will be offering you a mix of local stories, plus articles from around the country and have correspondents in Madrid, Murcia, Mallorca and Marbella. They will be writing about history, culture and food, with a smattering of human interest and geography features, plus consumer investigations. I myself am a keen traveller, and have written for decades on the many corners of Spain for the UK media, including the Daily Mail, the Telegraph and Conde Nast Traveller. I arrived in Spain to write a novel in 2002 and, simply, never went back. I fell in love with the country, while working in Madrid for two years in the 1990s and always pined to return.

When the opportunity to come back with my wife, an artist, popped up, I grabbed it by both horns, if you'll excuse the pun. After looking at various places to settle, including inland Catalunya, Asturias and Extremadura, we settled on Ronda, for its history and culture and connections to the Costa del Sol and the rest of Andalucia. Since then, I have worked as a stringer for most of the national newspapers, helped on numerous BBC and ITV programmes and, most recently, helped to curate the huge eight-part Netflix documentary on missing Madeleine McCann. I launched the Olive Press in 2006, as I began to realise there was a huge gap in the market when it came to local media. Sick of the cheap and tawdry local press on the Costa del Sol - rags only serving their owners, with all too frequently sickeningly racist editorial - I decided there needed to be something else. Quite simply, the huge expat population of Spain was NOT being represented. Nobody was exploring their problems, fighting their corner, listening to their plight. That is what good local media does.

March 28th - April 10th 2019

Our history so far

LAUNCH

2006

Website

2007

In 2006 the Olive Press launched it’s first issue in Andalucia

First supplement In 2007 the Olive Press launched it’s website theolivepress.es

Tips

I take great pride in launching our fourth paper here on the Costa Blanca, an area I have visited on many occasions, and I look forward to getting to know it better. I hope you will be around to fill me in with your best tips for places to eat, visit and stay, while keeping my journalists busy with plenty of things to write about. Remember a local paper is only as good as its readers. You are our eyes and ears. Dont hesitate to contact me at Jon@theolivepress.es or call 951273575

Mijas

ll about

Vol: 14

Issue 314

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Pueblo Perfect

March 2019

Mijas is a suprisingly authentic village with a buzzing coastline, discovers Laurence Dollimore

WebsiteS

2010

F you’re looking for a typical Andalucian town to charm your socks off then further than white-washed Mijas. look no The classic hilltop town, just a stone’s throw from the Costa del Sol, is quintessentially Spanish and packed full of surprises. Discovered by the globe’s more bohemian artists and writers in the 1950s and 60s, it was immortalised in Ronald Fraser’s 1973 book, The Pueblo, and continues to cast a spell on visitors today. A recent €4.7 million renovation which saw the main square transformed beyond recognition has helped (and for that you the EU, which coughed up 70% ofcan thank the funding). If you are visiting on a clear day, don’t forget to enjoy the jaw-dropping views of from the cliff-edge view point on thethe coast of the pueblo - although you mightoutskirts have to wait for snappy happy Instagram ‘influencers’ to end their posing session before you can Continues overleaf

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In 2009 the Olive Press launched it’s first special supplement on Mijas

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Our success

Be it radio, newspaper or TV, our role is to go out and talk to the community. Yes, and to help and to right as many wrongs as we can. I'm not saying we can work miracles, but we can probe the right authority and ask some awkward questions. Our successes include a twoyear campaign into danger drug Nolotil, the end of a 2,000-home double golf course scheme alongside a Natural Park and the location of a trio of Britain's Most Wanted criminals, including the fastest-ever arrest after a UK Crimestoppers appeal. We have highlighted the lies of politicians, exposed conmen and fraudsters and won awards for our environmental campaigning. And, all the while, alongside articles promoting the very best of Spain.

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March 19th - April 1st 2015

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Welcome to the Rock

FIRST Minister Fabian Picardo has given a warm welcome to the Olive Press’ launch in Gibraltar. The father-of-two saluted the paper’s original reporting and insisted his government would give its full support to aid our growth in the enclave. “I am delighted to cooperate and to ensure you receive all the help you need to inform those who choose the Olive Press for their news. “Welcome to the media stable in Gibraltar.”

Politicians call for British Royal Navy gunships to be permanently stationed in Gibraltar during defiant National Day speeches

Blown away

DEFIANT calls for British Navy battleships to be stationed again By Tom Powell Gibraltar have been made duringin a got the biggest cheer, raucous National Day rally. when he insisted the Royal Navy should - once A group of 11 British politicians de- again - have battleships livered rip-roaring speeches focuspermanentsing on recent tensions with Spain ly stationed in Gibraltar. and backing Gibraltar’s right to self- “The people of Gibraltar are a part of the Great British family and I would determination. like to see a battleship here to appreThe Casemates crowd – a sea of red hend any Spanish and white – echoed the patriotic ship to illegally sentiments as Chief Minister Fabian enter British waters,” he said. Picardo delivered the final address, Democratic Unionist MP Ian Paisley added: “These are centering around a salute to PARTY MODE: Gibraltarians the waters, this is our our international celebrate National Day with ‘evacuation generation’ of 75 years country, these are inflatable barbary macaque our people and we must support ago. them.” Linking it to the current refugee “National sis engulfing Europe, he vowedcri- “We will never surrender this rock!” diminished.Day will never ever be cent years due to its environmental to In fact, it will only get impact he roared in a rousing help as much as possible under – took place. bigger. We stand together, red white the After waving a letter address. Then, as the crowds gazed up at plea that ‘sharing is caring’. of ‘best wishes’ and free!” he bellowed. the from the Queen, red and white speckled sky, Tina But it was Conservative MP for finally vowed to the Chief Minister Following the speeches, the tradi- Turner’s Romford, Andrew Rosindell, who increase National tional releasing Simply the Best blasted of the balloons Day celebrations in years to come. which has caused controversy in – through the sound system, signalling re- the start of an almighty party.

The Rock’s leader was talking alongside his lawyer wife Justine ahead of his key speech at National Day, one of the ‘most significant ever’. He told the Olive Press: “It is particularly auspicious this year with the day commemorating the 75th anniversary of great evacuation of the Rock, as well as coming in the week the Queen becomes the UK’s longest serving monarch.” A highlight of his week was watching Kings of Leon at the Gibraltar Music Festival. “Not at the front as I would have got crushed,” he joked. “But I was blown away when I saw everyone’s hands in the air for Sex on Fire, the best rock song of the last decade.” As for a date for his first reelection contest, rumoured to be on November 20, he said: “The only person who knows is my wife.”

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Listen up

Expat bar owners protest over draconian sound limiters stopping music quieter than a

Ring any bells? vacuum cleaner Rocker’s villa going for a song on Mallorca

t’s the most exciting launch to hit the island in a decade! The first edition of the Mallorca Olive Press is now on the loose… and totally free! Already voted the best expat paper in Spain, we now promise to deliver the news that really matters in Mallorca. Available in the four corners of the island, we also vow to deliver a blend of irresistible, entertaining and informative features… as well as campaigning on key issues and problems. Aimed at the huge foreign market in Mallorca, the readers will be a healthy mix of Scandinavian, Dutch and Germans… not to mention the British and Irish, of course.

Pride

By Laurence Dollimore

Page 4

AROUND 100 island bar owners and entertainers are expected to stage a silent protest today after being forced to install new ‘THEY’RE KILLING US’: Singer Steffi (right) and bar owners €3,000 sound limiters. fear for the future marched down to Calvia town It comes after Calvia Council hall to petition the mayor, oped nodules, making them unimposed draconian new rules, where they were met by Guarable to perform. in effect from May 1, in a bid to dia Civil, police and a TV crew. “It’s affecting our work and ‘reduce noise pollution’. They plan to return at 3.30pm health,” she added, “It could But British and Spanish busiworks today (Thursday), when the ness owners say the new laws fine and I have never had a prevent us singing.” councillors discuss the new are ‘killing’ the party hotspot complaint,” said owner of During a meeting of 100 busiThe OP’s roundup of Spain’s limiters, in the hope they can ness owners and performers, and are ‘prejudicing’ live music Stepps, Dave Woodward, 59. most corrupt politicians change their minds. and karaoke venues. Meanwhile, British singer Steffi attended by the Olive Press, the If unsuccessful, all venues The new limit is - incredibly Lorena, 25, claims the limits group blasted the council for Page 6 around Calvia will be ordered the level of an air conditioning are affecting the livelihoods of ‘giving in’ to tourists who come to install the limiters through unit at 100 feet and less than a performers. “It’s impossible to to the party areas for a quiet the same engineering company vacuum cleaner. sing within the new limits,” the holiday. by May 1. “This could put us out of busiowner of Santa Ponsa’s Retro “The council are protecting the Once installed, the device auwrong people,” one exclaimed, ness, it’s unreal,” Fennigan’s bar told the Olive Press. tomatically turns down music bar owner Mick Cormican, 55, “We opened in February and I “They are protecting two Brits if it goes over 62 decibels, detold the Olive Press. was forced to fork out €3,000 who come for a quiet holiday scribed as ‘restaurant conversa“A car going by is louder than on a new limiter and if we have and complain about the noise, tion or background music’ by the limit, it’s particularly prejua loud crowd or they start clap- it’s a disgrace!” industrialnoisecontrol.com. dicial to live music and karaoke ping the music goes down and One bar owner, on the island for Those going over the limit will 15 years, claimed the council is Editor Jon Clarke reviews Spain’s bars as they simply cannot peryou have to strain to be heard. face hefty fines, with some alalleged best restaurant form within the sound limit.” “It’s got to a point where it is being manipulated by hotels legedly already being fined A collective of 20 business ownactually damaging performers, and clubs who want to drive Page 28 €6,000. business away from the bars. ers and entertainers yesterday it’s not worth it.” “I already have a limiter that Some local singers have devel- “The new rules are twisting the spirit of EU rules, and instead of helping us, they are punishing us,” he said. “We will be forced to keep noise levels lower than in the indusDE MALLORCA trial areas… the rules are impossible to comply with and we fear police are likely to fine anyone who fights back!” He alleged that clubs sell tickets MORE from stands without the correct revenue with licenses but that the authorities German clients! look the other way. Put your ads in “The council knows that the sale Tel: 951 979 221 | sales@oaklandfurniturespain.com stands from the clubs break the EL AVISO rules as they use secondary linewspaper! censes known as ‘Licencia complementaria’ when the primary license operating the business is CONTACT US closed,” he added. 971 619 234 See our adverts inside 661 901 290 Ave de Gabriel Roca 4, Palma Opinion Page 6 Info@el-aviso.es

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We deliver to Mallorca

After operating for a decade in Andalucia and Gibraltar, our team of professional journalists pride themselves on understanding the needs of our discerning readership. We also promise to ensure that our editorial takes up, at least, half of the paper and we will not jam it full of adverts, particularly of a sexual nature. Finally, we would like to thank everyone for making us feel so welcome from the moment we arrived. We now clearly understand why Mallorca is leading the way in Spain for property and tourism and why so many celebrities and dignitaries visit the island and make it their home. The incredible scenery, great local food, cosmopolitan feel, accompanied by the warmth of the locals makes it truly unique. It’s safe to say, we will be sticking around!

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COUPLED-UP: Romeo and Millie

Stranger fling STRANGER Things star Millie Bobby Brown has been dating Romeo Beckham. The Marbella-born starlet was introduced to Romeo’s famous family at charity Unicef’s 70th anniversary gala in December 2016. Romeo’s mum Victoria has given her ‘seal of approval’ to the young couple and is said to think highly of Millie, who is a regular on the Costa del Sol, where her parents used to work. The 15-year-old British actress, who earns €257,000 per episode for the hit Stranger Things series, posted a message on instagram last year wishing Romeo a happy birthday.

Show must go on DEVASTATED British comic Roy ‘Chubby’ Brown will still play in Alicante this weekend despite a shock family tragedy. It comes after the 74-yearold comedian cancelled two tour dates in Scotland at the 11th hour after a family bereavement. Brown’s management said: “Roy has cancelled his imminent tour dates in Scotland due to a tragic family loss. “Roy would appreciate dignity and privacy at this sad time.” Chubby’s next gigs are scheduled in Benidorm on March 30 and Alicante on March 31.

Olive Press features in hard-hitting Maddie documentary 12 years after the toddler vanished

THE Olive Press has played a starring role in the new hit Netflix documentary about missing Maddie McCann. The paper's editor Jon Clarke features in various episodes of the eight-part series just released by the global streaming giant. The makers behind the €20 million series, the Disappearance of Madeleine Mccann, spent two days with the Olive Press team in Malaga. They then travelled with Clarke to the Algarve, in Portugal, where the British three-year-old went missing on May 3, 2007. The Olive Press editor, 50, was the first journalist on the scene in Praia da Luz the day after police began their disastrous attempt to find the toddler.

Vanished

March 28th - April 10th 2019

Hoping for answers

NOT AMUSED: Benidorm’s Madge would be quite upset ADVISOR: Editor Jon Clarke (right) with film crew

In the hard-hitting series he takes the crew around the resort, and reveals his shock at how laid back the police operation was and how he met the McCanns in those early hours. "Initially there was just a small bit of tape in front of the apartment, and then a bit at the side where the patio doors were," he revealed in the film. "It wouldn't have been difficult to walk in and have a look around. It certainly wasn't Fort Knox," he added.

Spain features heavily in the doc, with shots of the Olive Press head office in Manilva and the Costa del Sol. The series looks into dangerous paedophiles around the area and many new leads that were not followed up. One investigator from detective agency Metodo 3 in Barcelona revealed how he spent nine months probing dozens of ‘sick’ paedophiles in both Portugal and Spain. It is expected to be watched by

BRITAIN’S most famous wildlife expert has teamed up with Spain’s most famous actress for a new Netflix documentary about the natural world. Our Planet is the latest series form the streaming giant, which gives viewers the option to have Sir David Attenborough or Penelope Cruz as a voiceover. The team responsible for the BBC’s award-winning Planet Earth are behind the new eight-part wildlife show, which is

released globally on April 5. The pair of national treasures are among 10 local narrators of the series, which has taken four years to make and was filmed in over 50 countries, involving over 600 crew members.

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millions and puts to rest long term rumours that the parents killed her. One local British expat NOT featured is conspiracy theorist ex-detective Peter MacLeod, based in Nerja. The former Nottinghamshire copper has long trolled that the parents were guilty and even produced a libellous pamphlet on why they did it. Friends of Maddie’s parents slammed him after he told an Australian TV channel this month that the way Kate McCann described her daughter’s bedroom window as wide open on the night she disappeared could be a ‘red flag’. They insisted he was merely ‘spouting off’ and that they were 'spurious allegations'. MacLeod, who used to run a B&B business in Ronda, once tried to claim that Olive Press editor Clarke could not have been in Praia da Luz on the morning after Maddie’s disappearance. In a disgusting blog post he also somehow suggested that Clarke may have been in some way involved.

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THEY have famously been dubbed ‘Madge-mobiles’ after one of hit TV show Benidorm’s most popular characters. So it is with great irony that the tourist resort itself has decided to ban mobility scooters on the majority of its pavements. The move, which carries a fine of up to €450, will also see Segways, hoverboards and motorised scooters barred from the town’s pedestrianised areas. They are also banned in cycle lines and along the paseo. The vehicles, a favourite among British tourists, have been branded a ‘menace’ and will be set a new speed limit of 12mph in other areas. The new laws have come into effect after a two-year battle and seven attempts and follow a similar ban in Alicante. Raunchy t-shirts are also banned as part of a crackdown on ‘uncivic tourism’. It comes after officials seized 500 ‘offensive’ items - including lighters adorned with naked women - in raids on five shops on Calle Gerona and Avenida Europa.

Dressing down

SHE travelled the world as a global ambassador for Spain. But now 1996 Miss Spain has been arrested at Madrid airport after failing to pay a traffic fine. Maria Jose Suarez was seized as she got off a flight from the Dominican Republic. The model and TV presenter was flagged up for two

HELD: Maria Suarez unpaid fines, one of which was for driving without a licence.

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NEWS

www.theolivepress.es

March 28th - April 10th 2019

Did you feel it? AN earthquake has hit a popular holiday destination on the Costa Blanca, rattling residents’ windows and houses from Cartagena to Benidorm. The 3.3 earthquake hit on Sunday at 5.16pm just offshore from Torrevieja. Alicante, Elche, Torrellano and Santa Pola were the most affected regions, though tremors were recorded all along the 200-mile coast. Described as ‘one of the biggest earthquakes of recent years in the province’ the

Your reporters, here to help on the Costa Blanca Introducing News Editor Laurence Dollimore and Reporter Joshua Parfitt Contact them with any stories or news on 951 273 575 or email newsdesk@theolivepress.es (Personal contacts on page 6)

EXCLUSIVE By Laurence Dollimore

A BRITISH reverend who was sent home to die by doctors is celebrating his FOURTH year of dodging the grim reaper. Vergel-based expat Clive Read, 79, was suffering from pneumonia and an undiagnosed heart condition when he stopped responding to treatment at Denia Hospital in April 2015. The father-of-one, originally from Sidcup, was sent home with ‘a few days to live’, but miraculously recovered ‘thanks to his wife and God’. “My wife Ann was a saint and did everything that a loving and caring wife would do and more,” the holyman told the Olive Press. In fact it was when his wife revealed that she would need a break from being his caregiver and that she planned to bring in a part-time helper that Read sprung into action - literally.

tremor hit just as commemorations were taking place for the Cabo de Palos earthquake that struck 190 years ago in 1820, killing 400 people. Social media user Cathy Grant said: ‘’Boy oh boy it rattled the windows in Guardamar, felt like a huge rumble of thunder. Biggest one I've felt.’ Another Jackie Palmer revealed: “It was a tad scary, first one we’ve felt. I thought the glass curtains were a gonna.’’

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Holy man thanks wife and God after being ‘sent home to die’

“That very same day I rolled out of bed, rolled onto my zimmer frame, took one step and got back into bed,” he recalled. “The next day I took another step and the next day another, until one day Ann came back from work and found me walking around the living room.” The reverend, who has lived in Alicante for more than 50 years, shocked doctors when he returned to the hospital for treatment eight months later. “The doctor said to me, ‘I

thought you died!’ “It was then that she told me she sent me home because she thought I would have preferred to have died in my own home.” The expat, who also runs the Oasis Help Centre, in Javea, which helps expats settle in to life in Spain, added: “Now I feel fabulous and better than ever, bring on the 80th birthday in May.” Got an inspiring expat story? Get in touch at newsdesk@theolivepress.es

Million march From front

so many members joined us in London.” MPs used Monday night’s vote to express their discontent at Theresa May’s stubborn refusal to set a fresh approach to Brexit. Parliament will now hold a series of ‘indicative votes’ today (Wednesday) in an attempt to break the Brexit deadlock after the Government lost the vote by 329 votes to 302. Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer said: “Another humiliating defeat for a prime minister who has lost complete control of her party, her cabinet and of the Brexit process. “Parliament has fought back and now has the chance to decide what happens next.” A softer Brexit will likely be one of the options to be voted on as will staying in the customs union and even another referendum.

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HEROES: Jill and Patrick

Bravo!

A HEROIC Swedish couple have told the Olive Press how they rescued a disabled expat from his burning home in Torrevieja. Jill and Patrick Hansen pulled Brit John Abraham, 63, from his smoke-filled home after seeing his hand at the window of the property in the El Limonar urbanisation. At first the brave duo, in their 30s, could not pull Abraham out on their own as he was not responding and only has one leg. They rushed outside, put the expat’s laundry over their faces and rushed back in, carrying him out by holding onto his arms and leg. “We didn’t have time to think about what we were doing we just reacted,” Jill told the Olive Press. “We’re just normal people,” added Jill, saying her husband was a landscape gardener, while she worked with the elderly at a day centre. “I don’t want to think what could have happened if we didn’t get to him.”

Expats join locals to protest development at virgin beach used by naturists

Flash mob

EXCLUSIVE By Joshua Parfitt

AN Irish expat has joined protests against a five-storey tower block that has sprung up behind her favourite nudist beach. Brenda Kelleher, 41, fears 68 potential ‘peeping toms’ will ruin unspoilt Almadrava Beach, between Oliva and Denia. She has now joined local women’s group Asociacion Aquarela in a series of ‘monthly protests’ to demand the town hall creates a safe and hidden naturist zone for them to use. “It was one of the last virgin

CREEPING: New flats near nudist beach (left) set to threaten naturists (right) places that hadn’t been touched by development,” Brenda told the Olive Press. She and her family have been regularly using the beach for years. “We used to come here every

NEARLY half of all migrants arriving in Spain last year reported being robbed ‘at least once’ during their journey while 48% said they were physically abused. According to a report by the International Organisation for Migration, which interviewed 1,341 recent migrants to Spain, around 38% also said it took them more

evening and love the privacy and seclusion, but this huge block has ruined all that,” she added. The beach has been a safe haven for naturists for more than 40 years.

Grave news

Damaged in transit

A MASS grave thought to contain victims of Franco, has been uncovered in Madrid’s largest cemetery. The remains of 3,000 people were discovered in La Almudena after heavy rains, exactly 80 years since Madrid finally fell to Franco. Thousands of people were executed in Madrid by Franco era military courts between April 1939 and February 1944. The grisly discovery comes as the Spanish government approve the exhumation of the dictator’s remains, with the reburial set for June 10.

than one year to arrive to the country, travelling from as far as West Africa. The report also showed that men vastly outnumbered the number of women making the perilous journey. Spain has become the main gateway to Europe for migrants from Africa, with 63,325 arrivals last year.

They did not pass, page 14

But with the housing complex set for completion early this summer, Brenda fears its days are numbered. She already claimed various friends have faced abuse from construction workers working on the site. “It’s going to be a big change I don’t know if we will keep coming here or go to Cala Ambolo some 10kms away,” she said. Maite Mompo, 51, who started women’s group Aquarela to combat the development, said she had asked the local town hall to designate the beach as an official naturist site. “Their answer was to send in the police to arrest us,” she claimed. The Spaniard who spent four years on Greenpeace’s Rainbow Warrior ship added that the majority of apartments in the new development would be second homes.

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PEOPLE in Spain don’t suffer from age related health problems until they reach 75, a new study has claimed. That’s a full 10 years later than the global average of 65. A study, published in The Lancet, analysed the rate at which people across 195 countries developed age-related diseases - including 13 cardiovascular diseases, 35 cancers and six respiratory diseases. Those living in the UK won’t experience the problems of a 65-year-old until they reach the age of 70. Japan and Switzerland topped the list with residents there not expecting to experience such health issues until they are 76.1.

Cancer rate up SOME 115,100 people will die from cancer this year in Spain, a leading medical body has predicted. According to the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM), lung cancer will be the most fatal cancer for men with around 17,300 deaths. While lung cancer rates are increasing among women mostly due to smoking - the biggest killer will be breast cancer with 6,300 deaths.

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FEATURE

www.theolivepress.es

March 28th - April 10th 2019

Voted top expat paper in Spain

A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than 500,000 people a month.

OPINION Wake up! IT has not even been a year since scientists declared we have just 12 years to take climate change seriously before we reach a ‘point of no return’, and already we are seeing direct consequences. Rising sea temperatures are having a negative impact on residents in Alicante, bringing more tropical nights and making it harder for people to sleep. Meanwhile, more than 30,000 square kilometres of land has become so dry it has changed the climate to semi-arid and aquifers are drying up. This is just a taste of things to come if no meaningful action is taken to reverse global warming. We need real divestment from fossil fuels and more investment into green energy. On a personal level, we need to cut down on our intake of red meat and there is no excuse for not recycling and cutting down on plastic use. At the Olive Press we use mostly recycled paper and maintain a strict policy of less than 1% returns. We also keep the number of pages to a minimum and keep the stories tight. The current government of Spain has taken some positive steps over recent months and seems to be very focused on the environment. Let’s hope this legacy continues after the elections in April, whoever wins.

No pasaran PEDRO Corral’s extraordinary retelling of Nationalist folly during one of the final battles of Spain’s bloody civil war is cause for reflection against the backdrop of Brexit. Franco’s generals at the siege of Madrid, 80 years ago, believed their bid for glory would ‘be a literal walk in the park’. It is rather like former prime minister David Cameron’s idiocy of believing that the UK would very happily vote to stay in the EU. He forgot there was such a thing as a ‘protest vote’. With MPs doing their own rendition of the famous cry ‘no pasaran’ in the face of Theresa May’s repeated attempts to force through her Brexit deal, a million expats face uncertainty over their pensions, properties and healthcare. This week MPs managed to wrestle back control over the Brexit process and here’s to hoping they’re able to find a majority for a milder alternative. Should a deal be struck for the UK to stay in the EU it would provide a less fleeting victory than that enjoyed by the Republican defenders of Madrid - one that would see Brits and Spaniards breathe a huge collective sigh of relief.

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PROTESTORS: 8M women on streets

Vox and HazteOir attack feminism as people across Spain answered the call to arms on International Women’s Day this month, writes Olive Press Madrid correspondent Heather Galloway

DAMAGED: Offensive bus was daubed with graffiti in Madrid despite police protection

‘Get back in the kitchen!’

HE fight for women’s rights turned decidedly ugly in the run-up to the 8M strike this month. As thousands of Spaniards prepared to take to the streets, joining the global sisterhood in a show of solidarity on March 8, a bus with a caricature of a lipsticked Hitler drove into the centre of Madrid. Organised by extreme right-wing Catholic group HazteOir, the campaign bus was unsurprisingly vandalised when a handful of women objected to its unsubtle branding of feminists as ‘Feminazis’. They, like thankfully most of Spain, State does not need to protect me, neifound its slogan ‘No Es Violencia De Gether to give nor to take away. I have the nero, Es Violencia Domestica’ (‘It’s not same rights as a man.” gender violence, it’s domestic violence’ If only. Her words are seductive but the ) sickening. figures tell a different story. Meanwhile, prosecutors in Barcelona Data from the Spanish Institute of Stafiled charges, alleging crimes of hatred, tistics shows that in 2018, women in insisting the propaganda ‘attacks the the public sector accounted for 55.2% dignity, rights and freedom of women’. of the workforce in Spain but were typiThe organisation is petitiocally paid €2,500 less ning the PP, Ciudadanos than their male counterand Vox to repeal the 2004 parts. Gender Violence Law. It also exposes the fact Some 47 women And they already have sithat pensions for women nister ultra right party Vox were, on average, €450 were killed by on side, with its manifesto less than men’s while the for the general elections gender violence median gender pay gap on April 28 promising to in Spain last year was 24%. replace the law with an InMore shocking is the fact ter-Family Violence Law. that 47 women were killed The strike was, of course, last year in Spain from an anathema to Vox and gender violence. According to Ignacio its Madrid president Rocio Monasterio González, of Judges for Democracy woopenly encouraged its supporters to bomen in Spain suffer from ‘irrefutable ycott it. institutional discrimination’. In a video shared on the group’s social But this is incredibly, contested by femedia networks, Monasterio read a male Vox candidate for Algeciras, Isabel manifesto against what she terms ‘burNieto Fajardo, 32, a gypsy, who told the ka ideology’ and ‘feminist supremacy’ Olive Press this week: “Vox wants genin front of a crowd of women holding der equality; so both men and women banners exclaiming: Don’t speak in my should be believed when reporting vioname! lence. “We celebrate being women 364 days “There are plenty of men subjected to a year, every day except March 8 when abuse, but when they report it, they are we will work harder than ever to affirm not taken seriously. Vox wants that to the power of our independence and our change. “I have a son and imagine if freedom,” she says. his future wife bangs herself on a pie“Don’t speak in my name because I am ce of furniture and blames it on him. a woman and I am not a victim just beHe then gets thrown into a cell and is cause I have been born a woman. The served with a restraining order. That is unfair. “Vox wants the allegation investigated to see if it is true. But not if it’s a lie, because there are an awful lot of false allegations being made.” However, according to Spain’s Director of Public Prosecutions, the false allegations she refers to account for - in fact - only 0.01% of the abuse reported by women since 2009. That aside, gender violence and domestic violence are two very different issues. Sofia Martinez, of association Andrea in Pamplona, which protested the light nine-year sentence for the gang rape by the so-called Wolf Pack during San Fermin festival, told the Olive Press: “The BIZARRE: Vox’s Isabel Nieto

NAZI: The lipsitcked Hitler charicature

law against domestic violence which we have had for some time addressed the problem of violence against women in the domestic family environment. “A lot of women have fought to have this changed to gender violence because it is violence against women and it can happen anywhere. “Now Vox wants to turn back the clock and have a law that only applies if it happens between the four walls of a house.” She continues: “I believe Vox lives in a parallel universe where there are no rapes or abuse. “Clearly their reality is different from mine and from most women. But if you don’t suffer, keep it to yourself. Don’t try to make the rest of us go backwards, not after we’ve spent so long fighting to inch forward.” In the end, it appears though that HazteOir’s dig at Feminazis had somehow backfired with many Spanish getting entirely the wrong end of the stick. After all, it was Hitler, who proclaimed in 1934 that ‘a woman’s world is her husband, her family, her children, her house’. It was more or less the mantra of former Spanish dictator Franco… and isn’t that the opinion of Vox?

www.theolivepress.es

FEATURE

Dys-membered Did gender dysphoria drive an Oxford Universityeducated expat to hack off his own penis in an act of extreme self-harm in Zaragoza this month? The Olive Press investigates

olive press online

Spain and Gibraltar’s best English daily news website The top three most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are:

- Dead body dumped on Spain’s Costa del Sol

was of young foreigner, 23 and had at least 10 gunshot wounds (21,413)

- DRUG HILLS: British expats in upmarket

EXCLUSIVE By Timothy McNulty in Zaragoza

March 28th - April 10th 2019

urbanisation on Spain’s Costa del Sol wake up to disgraceful graffiti (14,866)

- Gibraltarians fuming after Ronnie O’Sulli-

van says he’d rather sleep in pig sty than play snooker in Gibraltar (8,969)

Visitors: 270,691 Page views: 370,548 HE ‘bloodied’ expat staggered down Zaragoza’s narrow streets Average time on site: 5:04 close to Goya station in a nightmarish scene worthy of the great painter himself. Shocked onlookers enjoying a Friday evening stroll along the popular Gran Via saw SUFFERING: The British man who cut his penis off may have had gender dysphoria the 33-year-old unnamed Brit bleeding heavily from his crotch and raised the alarm. Police recovered the man’s amputated “We don’t know if we had a sick person penis in a grisly visit to his central apart- here living with us or if someone tried to kill him. Now he is in hospital and no one ment located on Calle Calatayud. They then raced man and penis to Mi- knows how he is,” Reyes, a neighbour complained to the Olive guel Servet Hospital where Press. doctors successfully reatZaragoza police were tached it in a complex opeActs of genital But quick to suspect the Brit ration, although they were self-mutilation did not carry out the horriunable to rule out future fic act himself. complications. have been As the investigation proWhile the unidentified man was recuperating in the reported around gressed it was suggested the man had posted online plastic surgery and urology the world prior to the incident, adver- CRIME SCENE: Where victim lived department, police had the tising for someone to perhard task of piecing togetrauma. form the amputation. ther what series of events And almost a week on from the atrocity, It appears this had led to this bizarre incident. liked’ The Londoner, who we are not naming for the expat’s housemate was arrested ‘well of legal reasons, told police the wound was amidst reports of a gruesome pact be- University Oxford-educated self inflicted, sparking theories about tween the two friends. drug use and hysteria-induced self-harm. Policia Nacional announced the flatmate English teacher had been arrested on suspicion of ‘woun- could have be THE Olive Press web statistics are nothing short of amading’ and was being held for questioning driven to act zing. by a condition at a police station in the city. Our rapid growth over the last six months shows no sign At first the story was compared to the known medically of abating as our regular daily visitors nudges a figure of high profile case of John Wayne Bobbitt, as ‘gender dys20,000 a day. phoria’. castrated by his vengeful wife in 1993. It is perhaps, what you might expect from a media group But that was before Spanish press began Gender dysphothat invests in journalists, not scared to ask questions and investigate stories properly. reporting that the victim, who is believed ria is a condition Providing original content on an almost hourly basis, seto have moved to Spain in 2014, was ‘not where a person ven days a week, means that our Alexa ranking (above) happy’ with being a man and struggled identifies with - created by Amazon.com, the world’s biggest online rethe sex opposite with his gender identity. tailer - has continued to soar. Something appears to have driven this to that to which he or she was biologically As well as zooming into the top 200,000 sites in the seemingly ‘normal’ thirtysomething to born. In other words, people don’t identify world, we are in the top 13,000 in Spain, while our bitter ‘ask a friend’ to cut off his own penis. with their own biological sex. rivals languish outside the top 20,000. LIke Goya’s paintings which grew pro- Dr Jesus De Lago has been treating paAnd, if you were to doubt Amazon’s own statistics (beliefoundly more troubled in the artist’s tients with gender dysphoria for almost ving they were in some way manipulated) then you could later years, this British expat may have two decades. He shared with the Olive use Google’s very own analytical programme to verify our http://www.theolivepress.es experienced his own personal descent Press how, despite Spain’s progressive Analytics www.theolivepress.es claims. into darkness. Whatever the true story, stance on the issue, life is hard for peoFYI, they show that our worst day over the last fortnight Audience Overview tragically that evening in Zaragoza, life ple who are not happy with their gender was 11,300 unique visitors (users), while our best day identity. seemed to imitate art. (see below) had 26,780 unique visitors (users). All Users Though a rare event, acts of genital Speaking from his clinic in Madrid, Dr Users Average100.00% time on the site OVER three minutes. self-mutilation have been reported Lago (above) said: “Of course it is a very Is it any wonder that we were voted the BEST expat paOverview complicated problem to solve, we are around the world and per in Spain and second best in the world at the London VICTIM: Unamed British expat and (below) only starting to open our TESCA awards? a painting from Goya’s black period throughout history, going minds just a little. We don’t pay for our awards, we don’t buy followers for back to religious practice Nowadays our Users Twitter feed and we don’t acquire ‘likes’ for our Fa“You will find people in in ancient Rome. 3,000 cebook pages. Spain with those problems A recent incident in 2016 http://www.theolivepress.es surgery is the  Go long to report At the Olive Press it is all 100% organic. And may it Analytics without the possibility of finsaw a man in India chowww.theolivepress.es 2,000 remain that way. any help. most important ding pping of his penis in a fit Audience Overview 1,000 will see stronger chanof rage at the fact his wife thing we can do We 19 Mar 2019 - 19 Mar 2019 http://www.theolivepress.es ges not only in Spain but had not slept with him in All Users Analytics 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 100.00% Users … 01:00 02:00 03:00www.theolivepress.es 10 years. for trans people also in other countries as we recognise that these Audience Overview According to research caOverview people need help.” rried out in 1979 by HarUsers New Users Sessions All Users Dr Lago takes pride in his vard Psychologist James E 100.00% Users 26,780 11,573 32,088 Groves, the majority of recorded cases work and sees sex Users change operations as help people with ‘gender Overview have involved people with psychosis. The the only way to3,000 Number of Sessions per User Page Views Pages/Session rest can be attributed to either bizzare dysphoria’ get better. 2,000 surgery is the autoerotism or crude attempts at sex He added: “Nowadays 1.20 41,881 1.31 Users most important thing we can do for trans change. 1,000 3,000 Transgender individuals have consis- people, I have treated many and I can say Avg. Session Duration Bounce Rate after surgery felt tently been shown to have higher rates now that 99% …of people 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 2,000 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00 00:03:46 26.21% of many psychiatric conditions, often like they had a completely new life.” Returning Visitor New Visitor worsened by societal discrimination and 1,000

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Too cool for school THE Laude Lady Elizabeth Secondary School is officially open again for learning following a €13 million makeover. Hundreds of lucky students attended the official launch event at the weekend, with a bucking bronco, face painting, finger food and special student performances enjoyed by all. Based in Benitachell, near Javea, the project took a year to finish and now houses over 1,000 pupils all under one roof. “It’s an inspiring place, it looks fantastic and most importantly it’s functioning well, we are so excited to welcome students and teachers to their new space,” Canadian headmaster Chris Akin told the Olive Press. The school is part of a chain of over 30 international schools, including Laude in Marbella and the British School of Malaga, formerly St.George’s.

End of the line €15,000 military operation as fish and chip shop owners return to the UK with 50 dogs and cats in tow

A BRITISH couple have returned to Blighty with 50 dogs and cats in tow. Fish and chip shop owners Jacqui and Tim Kerswell, 44, spent €15,000 to get their beloved pets home to the UK after making the decision to relocate. The pair, who ran Tim’s Fish & Chips, in Manilva on the Costa del Sol, have returned to their farm in Devon with 32 cats and 18 dogs, over two legs and with a van completely full. “Pets are like children: if you can’t take care of them, then

EXCLUSIVE By Joshua Parfitt

don’t have them,’’ Jacqui, 54, told the Olive Press. The military operation took months to prepare, particularly as they had to carefully place the pets in cages to avoid them fighting on the route. “Spain is a prime spot for abandoned dogs and cats, but many expats also abandon their pets because they don’t want to fork out for transport,” added Jacqui. “We haven’t got a lot of money, but I would rather go

Result for bulls

Speedy islands A HIGH-SPEED ferry will now get you from the Costa Blanca to Formentera in less than two hours. The newly-renovated Ramon Llull passenger ferry will have its debut from Denia on April 17. Carrying 500 passengers it will leave at 9am, returning at 11pm from the smallest of the Balearic Islands the same day.

March 28th - April 10th 2019

LOADED UP: Jacqui in van with pets and (inset) with Tim in Spain

without food than see my animals suffer.” The pair rescued every one

THE Spanish Supreme Court has put animal rights over ancient rites to end the torture and killing of bulls at a historic festival. Animal rights activists are delighted that Spain’s top court has refused to overturn a ban on bulls being lanced to death by a spear-wielding crowd at the Toro de la Vega feria, in Castilla y Leon. Judges insisted that the tournament, that was previously watched by 40,000 fans on the banks of the River Duero should stay outlawed. It comes as PETA have claimed that over 100 towns have now banned bullfighting, while an Ipsos Mori poll found that 80% of Spaniards are now against the tradition.

of their p e t s from around their home o v e r the last decade. Each was given a microchip and pet passport and they have all been vaccinated against rabies - a process costing between €80-€150 each. Both journeys to the UK took 36 hours, with the dogs needing to be walked every four to five hours. The animals travelled in 28 separate cages that were fitted with ‘non-spill water bowls’, while the cats had special hiding spaces to relax.

Alicante ‘wolfpack’ FOUR minors have been accused of raping a 15-year-old girl and recording it on one of their mobile phones. The ‘twisted’ group allegedly threatened to release the video if the victim did not pay them €50. The attack is believed to have happened in Marina Alta, Alicante, last summer, but the girl only came forward this week after ‘living in fear’. The attackers are believed to have attended the same school as the girl. The incident bears a striking resemblance to the infamous ‘wolfpack’ case, which saw a group of friends from Sevilla attack an 18-year-old during the San Fermin festival in Pamplona three years ago.

Cocaine capital COCAINE use in Valencia has doubled while Bristol has been crowned the new ‘cocaine capital’ of Europe. That’s the conclusion of a study which tested for levels of benzoylecgonine (BE), a component produced when the body breaks down the Class A drug, in the sewage of dozens of EU cities. According to the latest EU report, cocaine use is more prevalent in Valencia than in party hotspots Paris, Berlin and Madrid.

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Plastic problem THE Gulf of Alicante is one of Spain’s most polluted coastlines. An 11-year study has revealed it has one of the highest levels of plastic pollution in the country. “The three areas with the largest presence of plastics are the Alboran Sea, the Gulf of Alicante and Barcelona,” said author of the study Santiago Garcia Rivera. “Although there is generally a smaller proportion of plastic than in other Mediterranean areas, the presence is very high.” Of the more than two tonnes of litter collected, 29.3% was plastic, 28.4% was slag, while the rest was made up of wood (10%), metal (9%) and glass (6%).

March 28th - April 10th 2019

Sahara-ville

Leaf them alone

Desertification continues to creep across Spain as climate change makes Alicante residents ill DESERTIFICATION has crept across 6% of Spain’s land mass over just four decades, alarming new figures have shown. A semi-arid climate, previously only prevalent in southern Spain, has taken a grip on 30,000 square kilometres of the country, according to weather agency AEMET.

Some 32 million people - or two thirds of the population - now have to deal with higher temperatures, ALARM: Average summer growth in a longer summers and decade more frequent tropical nights as a result of climate change. The worrying report also revealed how rises in sea The areas most affectemperatures are directly affecting people’s health, ted by this increase are particularly in Alicante. Castilla-La Mancha, The number of stifling tropical nights has tripled in the Ebro valley and the just 40 years, according to the AEMAT figures. southeast, including It is due to the surface temperature of the MediteAlicante. rranean increasing by 0.34C every decade since the These are all early 1980s. areas of classiThis not only causes sea levels to rise by ‘thermal cal, continental expansion’, but helps contribute to more tropical Mediterranean nights. AROUND 30 million sparrows have disappeared climates that This makes it more difficult to sleep and has ‘a difrom Spain in the last 10 years it has been revealed. have become serect impact on people’s health’, warned the report, The Spanish Society of Ornithology (SEO), mi-arid and have which cited Alicante as a ‘clear example’ of the proclaims the decline over the last decade resuffered a reducblems. presents a 21% reduction in the bird’s potion in rainfall. more extreme floo- The climate change pulations. The number of ding to Alicante city, data, fed by 58 obser“This decline is alarming, because if we do not tropical nights, Torrevieja, Benidorm, vatories, will be avaichange this trend we could find ourselves where temperaDenia and Javea. lable from April. Last very soon with cities without sparrows,” a tures don’t fall AEMET spokesman, year scientists warned spokesperson of the group said. below 20C, have Ruben Campo, also the whole of southern One fifth of the ‘common sparrow’ tripled in Alicansays summers have ex- Spain could be turned species now live in te since 1980, the tended by an average into a desert by the cities and are conseAEMET figures of ten days per decade end of the century if no quently threatened show. It has also and are now five weeks meaningful action was by toxic insecticides, high led to an increase longer than in the ear- taken to tackle global noise levels and pollution. in short, intense ly 1980s. warming. storms, bringing

Sea sick

Who killed the sparrow?

MORE than 100 trees are set to win new found protection from Denia town hall after a 15-year battle. A new proposed law, which was first drafted in 2004, will make it illegal to cut down trees without strict permission from the environmental department. The protected species include the trees along

BRANCHING OUT: Trees Calle Campo, the palm trees of the Cervantes Esplanade and the mulberry trees in Bosc de Diana. The new law is to be debated by the town hall today.

Padding in A PAIR of keen twitchers stumbled across a greater prize when they spotted the first officially recorded Iberian lynx in Alicante. The bird-watching brothers, Marcos y Bruno Ruiz, had the first confirmed sighting of the world’s rarest cat, near Villena. The arrival of the cat in the area has been confirmed by researchers of the Iberlince programme, who set up camera traps to record the creature on video. It is excellent news for the endangered feline, whose numbers are now officially growing fast, having seen numbers soar from just

100 in 2005 to an estimated 600 in 2018. The cat, which previously only lived in the Donana National Park and the Andujar area of Cordoba province, has now been downlisted from critically endangered to endangered on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s red-list thanks to nationwide conservation efforts. “There are many ancient accounts of their presence in Alicante, but this is the first definitive sighting we have had recently,” said the head of the Valencian Wildlife Service, Juan Jiménez.

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RITISH buyers in Spain dum records despite the have beaten pre-Brexit referendoom and gloom, new figures have revealed. Shrugging off the the sale of homes to plucky UK’s imminent departure from the EU, Brits rose 12% in 2018 to 10,178 ing the 2016 record of 10,156. - beatWhile UK buyers declined last year. referendum in June 2016, significantly in the quarters after the steadily It means the UK’s share of the foreign market has ter of 2016, they started and by a massive 28% in the last quar- to 17% increasing from a low of 14% in the first quarter of been at recovering to increase by 2017 double-digits Although the end of 2018. this is not yet back to the levels prior to the referendum

The Brits have not stopped in Spanish property with investing a 12% rise in purchases last year

due to other nationalities flooding the market, it is expected to again this year. rise According to property expert Mark Stucklin, of Spanish Insight, the weakness of Sterling Property against the Euro was the leading cause of the drop in demand. “Once the Pound stabilised at a lower level British demand bilised and then began to grow also staagain,” he explained. Continues on Page

III

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BRING ON THE WOMEN! March 13th - March 26th 2019

Brexit shambles FABIAN Picardo has suggested revoking Article 50 and remaining in the EU after MPs rejected Theresa May's deal for a second time. It comes after MPs roundly defeated the Prime Minister’s deal by 149 votes despite May’s pleas to ‘get the deal done’. Immediately after the vote, May announced Parliament will get a vote today (March 13) on whether to leave the EU without a deal. “This result makes the possibility of our staying the European Union more likely than it has been since the Article 50 notice was given,” said Chief Minister Picardo. “What will happen is still not clear, but I believe it is likely Parliament will tomorrow take a 'no deal' exit off the table.”

There is a ‘gender imbalance’ when it comes to running Gibraltar, claim female politicians

GIBRALTAR’S echelons of power have been compared to By John Culatto those in Iran due to its lack of female representation. It comes after the Rock vealed she was once advised ranked 154th out of 191 coun- to ‘find a man’ to lead her new tries in a study on women in party. power by the International “For them, the visual is that a man has to lead,” she added Parliamentary Union. “The study says we are only during a debate at City Hall. slightly better than countries “It’s all about awareness and Humiliating like Qatar, Congo and Iran,” changing these visuals.” Brexit Secretary Stephen said Together Gibraltar lead- Rival GSLP MP Samantha Barclay had told MPs the Sacramento agreed, saying er Marlene Hassan Nahon. deal would deliver the pro“We look back over the last there was ‘obviously’ a ‘gentections they had asked for, 50 years and there is only a der imbalance’ on the Rock. including on the status of handful of women that have “Overnight, I became minisGibraltar. graced Parliament with their ter for equality and I rememIn his closing remarks, Barber quite a hostile reaction presence. clay said: “The PM has been “As a result there is a void when we first started cel- BEHIND: Study said Gibraltar only ranked clear that the government of female role models as we ebrating International Womalongside Iran stands behind sovereignty haven’t been there to add our en’s Day,” she said. “Instead, we want for Gibraltar, and that will “I had to explain that the rea- that it is because of to show Mayor Kaiane Aldorino Lo- In one of her perspective.” last public never change.” these bar- pez, a former Miss World Speaking on International son we are raising awareness riers and biased that women winner, believed however, speeches before she is due to If MPs reject the no-deal opWomen’s Day, Nahon also re- is not to give a particular ad- are at a disadvantage al- that gender roles had begun step down from her position, tion, there will be a further vantage to women. ready.” she said: to change. “Children should understand vote on a potential extension that women are not made of Article 50 on Thursday. only to handle household A total of 75 Conservative chores or take responsibility MPs rebelled against the deal whereas three Labour of home and family. “Instead, both men and wom- MPs rebelled against their en are responsible of home leader by voting in favour. and family as well as the In a statement the EU’s Chief Negotiator, Michel UK BASED working world. Lettings | Sales “Women should identify their Barnier said: “The impasse strengths and abilities and can only be solved in the UK. Reliable private hire transfer Investments | Relocations move toward a world of em- Our “no-deal” preparations services for any occasion are now more important powerment.” Commercial and Residential • Luxury vehicles than ever before.”

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March 13th - March 26th 2019

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*Offer ends 30/11/18. Not valid for renewals. Subject to conditions. SIMPLE, INTRICATE AND STYLISH: Bofill’s works are all, mixture, of the three

RITISH buyers in Spain have beaten pre-Brexit referendum records despite the doom and gloom, new figures have revealed. Shrugging off the UK’s imminent departure from the EU, the sale of homes to plucky Brits rose 12% in 2018 to 10,178 - beating the 2016 record of 10,156. While UK buyers declined significantly in the quarters after the referendum in June 2016, and by a massive 28% in the last quarter of 2016, they started recovering to increase by double-digits

or a

The Brits have not stopped investing in Spanish property with a 12% rise in purchases last year

last year. It means the UK’s share of the foreign market has been steadily increasing from a low of 14% in the first quarter of 2017 to 17% at the end of 2018. Although this is not yet back to the levels prior to the referendum

due to other nationalities flooding the market, it is expected to rise again this year. According to property expert Mark Stucklin, of Spanish Property Insight, the weakness of Sterling against the Euro was the leading cause of the drop in demand. “Once the Pound stabilised at a lower level British demand also stabilised and then began to grow again,” he explained. Continues on Page III

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Lying scum By Gillian Keller

party ACTIVISTS from far right politicala hoax Vox, have been caught fabricating girls. about 'radical feminists' beating young Mallorca It comes after the leader of the that branch told a 8M Women's Day eventwere the trio, including his own daughter, in attacked by a group of 'radical feminists' Son Servera. with He claimed the girls were lefts 'knocked out teeth, a split lip and possibly a broken jaw', at the event in the town. One of the at the teenage youths was apparently still hospital with the jaw injury. around The story duly made front pages the Mallorca, but despite public doubts, reanti-feminist party kept up the charade, on telling and posting details of the 'attack' social media. 'Witnesses' even came forward describing the 'brutal attack'. However, the Guardia Civil soon discovered reported, that no such incident had been a paand no medical centre had received tient matching the injuries. the Finally, on Saturday, they confirmedthey story to be false, with Vox admitting had been spoofed. hall to The news led to Son Servera town party the against Sunday on host a protest the and against spreading 'fake news' about town. wom“We regret that a celebratory day foralleged en has been overshadowed by an aggression,” said a spokesman. tolerate He assured the town would not of Son ‘attitudes that harm the good name Servera’. a local While the party has since denouncedanother ‘activist’ for making the story up,town last protest was due to be held in the night as we went to press. Untitled-1.pdf

16/06/2017

FIERCE EXCHANGE

15:36

‘Get back in the kitchen!’ Page 6

Voted

back for MPs join battle to get millions firm expats who lost out to rogue FX

BEST

BLOCKED OFF EXCLUSIVE By Elisa Menendez

Elphicke, has now met with the EXCLUSIVE authorities to check on progress EXPATS in Mallorca have By Tim McNulty of the case. slammed the lack of action over He said, this week: “The FCA a foreign exchange firm collapse, their funds since then. as despite British authorities claim- One expat, based in Cas Catala, must treat this investigation ing an investigation is ‘a matter Pam Gardner has grown frus- a top priority. Innocent people have been left in terrible finanof priority.’ trated at attempts by the UK’s Dozens of clients, most of them Financial Conduct Authority cial hardship. to British expats, lost millions of (FCA) to ‘wriggle’ out of respon- “The authorities need to get the bottom of this urgently.” euros when the Palma-based sibility. company Premier FX suddenly “People in the UK just think it The move comes after the firm stopped trading in July last year. was a case of rich expats with - which operated from Palma, Victims have demanded answers too much money, they don’t re- Portugal and London - suddenly but have been left completely in alise it was people’s life savings stopped trading on July 27. told the Olive Press the dark and unable to access that were lost, money Victims that they had lost up they planned to retire last year each in life savon,” she told the Olive to €400,000 ings after the company was Press this week. administration by She added she was forced into authorities. ‘upset’ that local boss the UK group was formed Nick Jones has ap- An action has well over 200 parently washed his and now - many of them in hands of the case and members imdemanding the Balearics ‘fled’ the island. answers. She has now launched mediate an initial invesa civil case against the One claimed by Surrey police had firm, lodged in Palma. tigation been scrapped due It comes despite Brit- apparently funding’. ish MPs now stepping to ‘insufficient had been reguin to demand the FCA The company the FCA for money probes the case ‘as a lated by services but its custransfer matter of priority.’ were encouraged to MP for Dover, Charlie tomers UNDER FIRE: Local boss Nick

Jones

AN expat business owner is demanding action after neighbours put up ‘illegal’ bollards blocking his shop. Martin White, 54, claims his business Hot Spring Mallorca has been forced to cease trade for almost three weeks, after the series of 15-inch posts were installed. As well as blocking delivery trucks, it is putting off clients, he insists. “I’m suffering a loss of €1,000 a day. Delivery vans can’t get through to drop off stock,” White, from Hull, told the Olive Press. He has now called in police and Alcudia town hall, via a lawyer, to demand answers. The problem began when White, who is co-owner of the business with David Camping, 56, arrived to find the series of bollards blocking his shop on August 27. After contracting a legal firm he was told by both police and town hall that the posts were ‘illegal’. The businessman is now set to take the community of neighbours to court for discrimination and loss of business for €30,000 in compensation. The posts have also been installed in front of the Muslimowned supermarket next to him, although ‘mysteriously’, not the garage the other side. “It’s totally illegal,” he said. “You can’t just put them on one side without the other.” To make matters worse, three days after the bollards went in, one of the neighbours threw a bucket of water over him from above. He has also denounced the incident to the police. “I’ve had the shop for five years and I’ve never had a problem. “The administrator of the building told us this was a personal vendetta from residents,” he added.

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DIGGING FRANCO

What’s up at the Valley of the Fallen? Page 6

Expats demand the return of millions after FX company collapses amid fraud probe EXCLUSIVE By Elisa Menendez

EXPATS in Mallorca may have lost millions over the suspicious collapse of a foreign exchange firm being probed over ‘criminal activity’. Dozens of victims have lost up to €400,000 each in life savings after Premier FX Limited was forced into administration by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). It comes after the firm - which operated from Palma, Portugal and London - suddenly stopped trading on July 27, following the death of director, Peter Rexstrew. Since then hundreds of clients, many of them expats, have been left completely in the dark and unable to access their funds.

Assurance

Victims have now formed an action group with nearly 200 members - many of them in the Balearics - demanding immediate answers. One British expat, based in Palma, told the Olive Press she has no idea what has happened to the €30,000 she was holding with Premier FX. “I had used them for many years and there were never any problems,” explained the 69-year-old, who asked to remain anonymous. “I had transferred the money and was waiting for the ex15:36 change rate to improve.

WEAVING MAGIC

Is Bilbao tastier than San Sebastian?

Page 12

MISSING: Nick Jones

Page 20

amount of money’ from the collapse, according to a close friend. The Portals-based expat pal, who has also lost money, insisted Jones had been advised to ‘go into hiding’ after he was ‘lambasted’. “I know him closely and he said all employees were in total shock with the news. “He is not in hiding he has been advised to keep a low profile while the investigation is ongoing. And while a director, in reality, he had no access to the main accounts.” She added: “All this is very distressing for him and his family. He has been completely lambasted. I understand people are angry but there have been some really nasty comments. “It is quite clear that Peter’s children were taking over the business, not Nick.” Another victim told the Olive Press she has lost a staggering €400,000 due to the collapse. The UK-based businesswoman, who lived for decades in Portugal, has made three monthly transactions with Premier FX for 12 years. Despite being a friend of former

boss Rexstrew, who also lived in the Algarve, she was given no warning of the collapse. “I simply found out when I tried to make a transaction but no one would answer the phone. I then emailed and I received this automatic reply saying they had ceased trading and there’d be no further transactions. “I immediately smelt a rat,” she added. When she called the UK’s Action Fraud, an operator explained he knew nothing about it. “I’ve been stuck for two months without that money which I need for my business. “It’s not just affecting people buying holiday homes, it is also affecting business owners, who can’t pay staff or clients.” Most victims had been promised by Premier FX that their money was being held in ‘segregated, personal accounts’ with Barclays, but administrators now think this was not the case. It is also believed that many clients were still permitted to

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GIVE IT BACK “The next thing I knew, the money was gone. I feel sick about it,” added the pensioner. “I just don’t understand why no other media organisations on the island are tackling this.” In particular, she wants to know of the whereabouts of Nick Jones, the island’s former director, who has not been seen for over a month. She is angry that he had sent out an assurance email of the company’s financial stability on June 20, just days after the death of Rexstrew. However, the Olive Press understands that Jones, who worked out of an office on Palma’s prestigious Calle La Rambla, has also lost ‘a substantial

make financial transfers via Barclays even after the company had ceased trading. The FCA has since discovered that the company, set up in 2006, was operating without full authorisation. It was forced into administration after being unable to pay debts and was ‘cash flow insolvent’ following Rexstrew’s sudden death, leaving his two children as joint directors. Victims have so far received very little information from the company’s appointed administrators and Barclays and fear they will never get their money back.

Criminal

“It’s a real mindfield and like banging your head against a brick wall,” added another British retiree, who has lost money. Premier FX and Barclays failed to comment in time for press. An FCA spokesperson told the Olive Press: “We are very concerned that there was criminal activity taking place at Premier FX in relation to missing funds. “We are investigating the business and will take action against any individuals we find to have broken the law in order to return money to customers of the firm.”

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14 IN fire bosses have SEESOME MORE been arrested for allegedly THE RESTAURANT embezzling €7 bosses millionhave in SOME 14 fire public arrested funds. been for allegedly SECTION INSIDE The Policia Nacional found

Costa del Sol hotel has Costa del three Sol months tothree hotel has

fight decision months to before it is fight decision demolished before it is A HOTEL is to be knocked demolished

deposit funds, to be used as a type of savings vehicle. It did not have a licence to offer this service, it has since Pipe ban Pipe ban emerged. The company appeared to have got into trouble after its owner Peter Rexstrew died suddenly in Mallorca. The Olive Press can reveal that he had recently started renting a new property in the exclusive Portals area, with a new girlfriend, when he passed away. The pair had been seen out enjoying expensive meals and ‘living the high life’. The FCA did not get back to the Olive Press before deadline. embezzling €7 million in that funds. the Consortium of public Bomberos tookfound out The Policia Cadiz Nacional mass early insurthat the retirement Consortium of ance policies. Bomberos Cadiz took out But when their employees mass early retirement insurretired early, chiefs siphoned ance policies. off the money from the payBut when their employees outs. early, chiefs siphoned retired Authorities also found disoff the money from the paycrepancies in the consorouts. tium’s training courses. Authorities also found disLarge sums in were to a crepancies thepaid consorcompany to provide training tium’s training courses. courses, but no evidence Large sums were paid tohas a been found thesetraining courses company tothat provide took place. courses, but no evidence has Meanwhile, irregularities been found that these courses were also found in grants and took place. subsidies, whichirregularities cops believe Meanwhile, were also usedfound to pay private in for grants and trips. subsidies, which cops believe The date back were irregularities used to pay for private to 2008 and cops believe at trips. least €7 million hasdate beenback stoThe irregularities len by those the top. to 2008 andatcops believe at least €7 million has been stolen by those at the top.

FRUIT growers in the Axarquia are facing a 60% reduction in water usein from La FRUIT growers the the AxarVinuela with reducno soquia are reservoir facing a 60% lution sight.use from the La tion inin water The Junta has with decided to Vinuela reservoir no solimit its as the reservoir is lution inuse sight. already at 22.7% The Junta has capacity decidedand to couldits drop if the limit use even as thelower reservoir is dry weather keeps up. already at 22.7% capacity and could drop even lower if the dry weather keeps up.

Eroski billboard.indd 1

down for not having enough class! A HOTEL is to be knocked Benalmadena’s Hotelenough Vista down for not having de Rey must be demolished class! within three months, Benalmadena’s Hotela court Vista hasRey ruled, de must be demolished Andalucia’s Superiora Court within three months, court of Justice has ruled, ruled that the hotel falls shortSuperior of its four-star Andalucia’s Court requirement. of Justice ruled that the hotel falls short of its four-star requirement. Probing It began probing the three Probing star hotel and apartment block in 2011 after it was deIt began probing the three nounced overand planning rules star hotel apartment whichin set2011 aside theitplot a block after wasfor defour star hotel only. nounced over planning rules According to thethe PGOU which set aside plot town for a plan star an apartment four hotel only.block was not permitted it town also According to theand PGOU breached rules by being plan an apartment blockover was 700 permitted square meters not and itbigger also breached rules by being over 700 square meters bigger

NEWS NEWS

December 6th - December 19th 2017

‘He deserves it’ ‘He deserves it’ Not Not enough enough stars stars December 6th - December 19th 2017

From Page 1

DOOMED: Costa hotel DOOMED: Costa hotel

than permitted. Although the town hall and developer maintain this exthan permitted. cess was later corrected, the Although the town hall and judge ruledmaintain that the rectificadeveloper this extion would have taken place cess was later corrected, the after granting the lijudge the ruled that theof rectificacence, so does nottaken count. tion would have place The has 61 apartafter building the granting of the liments and 46 not parking spaccence, so does count. es. The building has 61 apartThe building spacwas mentsoriginal and 46 parking granted planning permises. sion then mayor Enrique The by original building was Bolin in 2001. granted planning permission by then mayor Enrique Bolin in 2001.

SMUGGLERS’ WALL SMUGGLERS’ WALL

POLICE officers have formed a human wall along a beach in La Linea to ensure that the construction of a have beachformed wall went ahead.wall POLICE officers a human The wall, between the church of Nuestra along a beach in La Linea to ensure that the Senora del Carmen andwall thewent perimeter construction of a beach ahead.wall of thewall, fishing port ofthe Lachurch Atunara, to The between of hopes Nuestra Senora del Carmen and the perimeter wall of the fishing port of La Atunara, hopes to

deter drug smugglers from using the beach as a drop off zone. A combined police presence Guardia Civil, deter drug smugglers from of using the beach local and off national as a drop zone. officers were present as fears grew that drug smugglers would try A combined police presence of Guardia Civil, and disrupt the work. local and national officers were present as fears grew that drug smugglers would try and disrupt the work.

Brexit fallout

week

Dear Olive Press,

In Gibraltar Issue 92 www.theolivepress.es

of the

He even got himself a financial advice slot on a well From Page 1 known radio station, through which he snared unsuspecting He victims. even got himself a financial advice slot on a well However, a comprehensive Press investigation exknown radio station, throughOlive which he snared unsuspectposed his scams that involved stamps, coins and gold. ing victims. We also revealed how he and his close Barry Nathan However, a comprehensive Olive Presspal investigation exwined his andscams dinedthat up to a dozen criminals, posed involved stamps, coinsanonymously, and gold. through food column. We also the revealed how he and his close pal Barry Nathan He eventually fled followinganonymously, our expose, wined and dined up the to a country dozen criminals, but we soon tracked him down to the UK, where he had through the food column. changed his name deed poll andfollowing was selling and He eventually fledbythe country ourcoins expose, antiques on eBay from a small cottage. but we soon tracked him downBerkshire to the UK, where he had He was quickly found guiltypoll under law ofcoins conning changed his name by deed andEnglish was selling and people and givenfrom a suspended prison cottage. antiques on eBay a small Berkshire sentence only due to health He was quickly found guilty reasons. under English law of conning “And because he apromised to prison never people and given suspended go back toonly his due online cons,”reasons. one of the sentence to health Britishbecause victim explained. “And he promised to never Butback this is not theone caseofwith go to apparently his online cons,” the two victims he is still using British victimclaiming explained. eBaythis to is sell ‘dodgy’ coins and stamps But apparently not the case with fromvictims his unpaid flat in ustwo claiming he Brighton, is still using ing the ‘gqtrading’ eBay tonames sell ‘dodgy’ coins and and ‘gqtradstamps ing2’. his unpaid flat in Brighton, usfrom “Wethe arenames pretty‘gqtrading’ sure he hasand broken his ing ‘gqtradbail conditions and will have to finally ing2’. go back prison,” one broken victim. his “We areto pretty suresaid he has “Theconditions nerve of this man unbelievable.” bail and willishave to finally Hisback landlord last night insisted he should have known go to prison,” said one victim. something up man fromisthe start. “The nerve was of this unbelievable.” “When we metlast to sign theinsisted contracts thoughthave he was a bit His landlord night heI should known slippery, I went to pay my coffee only for the barista to something was up fromfor the start. tell me he without paying his bill.” he was a bit “When we had met left to sign the contracts I thought He continued: paid for the first only couple months slippery, I went“He to pay for my coffee forofthe baristabut to thenme just He told us his account had been frozen tell hestopped. had left without paying his bill.” duecontinued: to a money“He laundering investigation, is probHe paid for the first couplewhich of months but ably true. “He thenHe told us us to his stopaccount contacting acthen just stopped. told had him beenand frozen cused of harrassment. due tous a money laundering investigation, which is prob“Nowtrue. he is claiming he us is to seriously ill and can’t to ably “He then told stop contacting him work and acmake payments. cused us of harrassment. “We’ll he seeishim in court.” “Now claiming he is seriously ill and can’t work to make payments. Opinion Page 6 “We’ll see him in court.” Opinion Page 6

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Congratulations to you on highlighting the hare-brained scheme to erect a network of 352 giant pylons in the Alpujarras and Lecrin Valley in your last issue. The damage to an entire region heavily dependent on tourism will be incalculable. But it’s not just the knock-on costs for the local economy that should concern us, there are environmental costs too, including the destruction of many hectares of natural habitat to create access roads and the like, as well as the anticipated sharp increase in the electrocution of raptors for which this area is renowned. That is not to mention the personal trauma and distress that hundreds of locals are currently undergoing with the prospect of this beautiful little corner of Spain being irreversibly and horribly despoiled. There is also the question of whether this hugely destructive and costly is needed in the first place, REE claims it is necessary because of the alleged increase in demand for electricity but that doesn’t make much sense as there is already a significant over-capacity in supply.

Readers react to a legal expert’s warning that 700,000 Brits in Spain could become ‘illegal aliens’ after Brexit

Andalucia Issue 313

XX 1, Santa pagePonca Jaime on Rey more Avenida Find out 0034 871 510 277

As spring blooms in Spain, don’t miss Andalucia’s Property most King of cool colourful Property Magazine FREE INSIDE STILL HOT www.theolivepress.es

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Issue 27

March 2019

Know what this is? It’s just helped an architect win the world’s most prestigious prize

March 13th - March

26th 2019

See Legacy on page VI

Spanish maestro celebrated for five decades in the business, see STARchitect page XII

SIMPLE, INTRICATE AND STYLISH: mixture, of the Bofill’s works three are all,

or a

RITISH buyers in dum records despiteSpain have beaten pre-Brexit referenthe doom and gloom, have revealed. new figures Shrugging the sale of homes tooff the UK’s imminent departure from ing the 2016 record plucky Brits rose 12% in 2018 to 10,178the EU, of 10,156. - beatWhile UK buyers declined significantly in the referendum in June quarters after the last year. It means the UK’s share of 2016, and by a massive the foreign market steadily increasing ter of 2016, they started 28% recovering to increase in the last quar- to 17% at the end from a low of 14% in the first quarter has been of by double-digits of 2017 Although this is not 2018. yet back to the levels prior to the referendum

The Brits have not in Spanish propertystopped investing in purchases last yearwith a 12% rise

due to other nationalities flooding the market, again this year. it is expected to rise According to property Insight, the weakness expert Mark Stucklin, of Spanish Property cause of the drop in of Sterling against the Euro was the leading demand. “Once the Pound stabilised at a lower level British bilised and then began demand also stato grow again,” he explained. Continues on

Page III

Amanda Cano, Granada

Downright stupidity

Voted BEST

expat paper in Spain

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ROMANIAN SWAP FREE

Vol. 13 Issue 313 www.theolivepress.e s

March 13th - March 26th

2019

British expat trades in his British passport Romanian one to keep for freedom of movement

A BRITISH citizen has pped his UK passport swafor a Romanian one because of Brexit.

Expat Nenei Newman, has lived in Spain forwho years, revealed he made 15 move to guarantee his the right

See page 5

www.eliteglasscurtains.com

EXCLUSIVE By Laurence Dollimore

to freedom of movement. The builder, whose mother is Romanian, told the Olive Press last night: “I want to travel around Europe and I have a life here, Ifreely, don’t want to have to get a visa become a third national.” or The 41-year-old, who lives in the Axarquia, added: “Never in my wildest dreams would I have applied for Romanian citizenship before referendum, but when the ve won and after seeingLeamess being made by the ticians I thought it waspolithe best option for me. “I don’t regret it.” Newman insists he still loves the UK and hopes recover from Brexit’sit will effects - despite the dailyside cism he suffered there. ra-

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am still proud to have grown up in London and I still admire the British and will always support them 100%.” His decision comes as nightmare no-deal sce-a nario is still a likely outcome just days before the UK is scheduled to leave the EU. Some 700,000 Brits believed to be living in Spain are particularly at risk, with healthcare, pensions and travel all points of concern. Brexit Shambles, page 5

People really should panic if they have been staying under the radar and avoiding tax. That is the point. Estimates of between 500,000 and 700,000 unregistered British people in Spain will be considered illegal after Brexit if they overstay 90 days. There is no point being complacent over this if you are a Brit and want to remain in Spain.

Support

Passport power

Fellow expat Michelle who has lived in LecrinHoward, for almost 20 years, added: news that your paper“It’s great mounting a campaign to will be support Di No A Las Torres against these destructive plans!” Their allegations were presented by the campaign groups last week in Granada. Under the scheme, the 220-kilovolt cables will cover a distance of 182 kilometres between and Granada, with 362Almeria and with a 14,000 square pylons substation built in Saleres. metre A spokesperson from Red Electrica insisted it was a project, telling the Olivepositive last night: ‘the better the Press city network, the better electrithe tourism’.

In the 2019 Global Passport the CEOWORLD magazine, Ranking, compiled by the UK ranked below Spain, the UAE and 16 other European and Asian countries. The list ranks the passports of 193 countries six other territories by counting the number of and tries each passport can counaccess without an advance visa. Romania was only 16 could change if visasplaces behind the UK but that the UK leaves the EU. become a requirement after

Tel: 902 123 282 902 123 282

People should panic

THE Olive Press is this launching a campaign to week two of Andalucia’s most protect emblematic areas from a destructive electricity project. Our ‘Fight the Power’ battle comes as more than 4000 written allegations were submitted in opposition to the massive electrification scheme that will see 80m-high pylons spanning the Lecrin and Alpujarras valleys of Granada. This is despite a joint Granada and Cambridgestudy by sities estimating that a lossuniversinesses in the area will to buamount to €16 million a year. “We’re delighted the Olive is taking up our cause and Press hope we can save this I really area,” said celebratedstunning British writer Chris Stewart, of Over Lemons fame, whoDriving lives in the Alpujarras.

NEW WORLD: Romanian passport deemed more useful

“I was so disappointed by the result, but I understand why Leave won,” he added. “So many people who wanted to cut down immigration have been influenced by the biased media, who only wrote negative things about people like me. “Yet I worked incredibly hard every day to be on building sites for 6am and never complained. “That was despite me and my mother both receiving regular racist abuse” He added: “That said, I

FIGHT THE POWER!

Phill Langley-May, Castillejar

Pylon the pressure

902 123 282

Katrina Edbrooke, Granada

It’s nice to be home. See Pylons in Paradise, page 6 & 7

See pages 21

*Offer ends 30/11 /18. Not valid for renewals. Subject to conditions.

TheOlivePress-256x170-BIKE-4.indd

We’re a burden

2/8/18 17:01

The UK don't want anyone back, because pensioners would be homeless, homes abroad would be worthless and lots more pension credit would be claimed, plus other benefits.

*Offer ends 30/11/18. Not valid for renewals. Subject to conditions.

TheOlivePress-256x170-BIKE-4.indd 1

2/8/18 17:01

This is fine, as long as they regulate it better in Marbella than they did last year with the supposed introduction of fines for people walking around the town centre in swimming attire (British tourists face €3,000 fines for drinking in streets of Marbella and Mallorca this summer while happy hours banned, Issue 313). I never saw anyone being fined.

Audrey Johnston, Marbella

Actually this is a good informative piece. The statement by the UK Ambassador says it all. If you stay more than 90 days in Spain, then register. No ifs, no buts, just do it. Failing to do this would be downright stupidity.

Ed. Hi Robin, thank you for your letter. We agree that the scheme is -hare-brained’ and will continue taking REE to task on another of issues. The environment and the tourism of the area are two of our primary concerns.

Imagine giving your passport up and taking another one on (British expat trades in his British passport for Romanian one to keep freedom of movement, Issue 313). That is a proud Brit right there.

Follow through

It’s a humongous, ignorant outcry. A legal expert has stated what she believes will happen. Depending on what happens with Brexit, this scenario could well happen (whether you like it or not or voted for it or not). Buckle up, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.

Robin Cox, Granada

CMY

Pride of Britain

Callum Gregory, Gibraltar

Buckle up gammon

March 28th - April 10th 2019

Cath Hillier, Calasparra

Mind-boggling Why was a two-year-old toddler allowed to wander off on his own? (Malaga judge rejects report from uncle’s lawyers claiming little Julen who died in well was killed by rescue worker’s pickaxe, Issue 313) It beats me, as you would make sure they were right next to you.

Marion Germaine, Athens

Ballers behind bars Mourinho is added to the ever growing list of multi millionaire footballers who apparently, don’t earn enough money (Jose Mourinho convicted of tax fraud in Spain but won’t serve any of oneyear prison sentence, Issue 311). The truth is, one of these Spanish prisons should have a Champions League-winning squad, and now they should even have the manager!

Stuart Hill, Madrid

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Has anything piqued your interest in this week’s Olive Press? Have your say on the matter by emailing newsdesk@ theolivepress.es or alternatively message us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OlivePressNewspaper or Twitter @olivepress

2019 is about a range of new shades to enhance and create.

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Across 8 Its capital is Kiev (7) 9 Jewelled headdress (5) 10 Pawnbroker (5) 11 Ignorant (7) 12 Deep-pitched band instrument (4,4) 15 Fourth Gospel (4) 17 Above (4) 18 E.g. Germaine Greer (8) 21 Glass containers (7) 23 Cutting instrument (5) 25 Vision (5) 26 Advantage (7) Down 1 Urban commuter belt (6) 2 Voracious aquatic reptile (Abbr.) (4) 3 Fruit drink (7) 4 List from which to choose (4) 5 Water vapour (5) 6 Tubular pasta (8) 7 Collapse (4,2) 13 Dearth (8) 14 Exploit (3) 16 Going down (7) 17 Surprise attack (6) 19 Agreement (6) 20 Roofing stone (5) 22 Weeps (4) 24 Gen (4)

LA CULTURA

NEWS

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March 28th - April 10th 2019

Send your informa newsdesk@theolive tion to press.es

Liam v Damon,

Gig guide

part II

Joint arrival RETURN: Dama de Elche

The face to launch a million tourists SPAIN’S oldest sculpture would bring one MILLION tourists to Alicante city if it was returned, its mayor has claimed. Carlos Gonzalez believes that the Dama de Elche would have an ‘enormous impact on the national and international visibility’ of the city. When the historic bust which dates back to 5BC was last in the city in 2006, it received 400,000 visitors in just six months, 80% from outside Valencia.

Paris

He has vowed to take up a campaign to have the Lady of Elche - which is currently in Madrid - returned following the upcoming elections. The masterpiece is made of limestone and was found in 1897 by a young farm worker in a field near the town of Elche. The same year it was found it was sold to the Louvre museum in Paris, until in 1941 the Vichy government returned it to Spain as a present to Franco. It was exhibited at the Prado until in 1965 it was moved to Madrid’s National Archaeological Museum, where it currently resides. Treasure hunt, page 16

THEY have famously fallen out on numerous occasions, often coming to blows. When it comes to rock rows, few run as deep as the one between Oasis’ Liam and Noel Gallagher (above and below). So it is intriguing - and somewhat incredible - that the pair will both be headlining festivals in Spain on the very same night this summer. But before the rumour-mongers get excited they are playing hundreds of miles apart, with Liam Gallagher playing at BBK in Bilbao on July 11 and brother Noel playing at Mad Cool, in Madrid that night. And, as Liam said a couple of years ago: “I’d rather eat my own shit than be in a band with him again.”

LOOKING UP: Noel

Low-lights LOW Festival has just announced seven new acts for its upcoming musical jamboree in Benidorm. The pop and indie festival, which takes place between July 26-28, has already confirmed headliners New Order, Foals, Bastille, The Vaccines and Vetutsa Morla. The new announcement will see them joined by Spanish electro-pop duo Fangoria, Spanish-Mexican singer Alaska, French dance-rock outfit Rinocerose and American self-confessed ‘chunk rock’ group White Fang. The festival will take place in the Ciudad Deportiva Guillermo Amor, just a stone’s throw from Benidorm’s town centre.

Keep vibe alive!

NE of Spain’s top music festivals will pitch Liam Gallagher (left) against Damon Albarn for the first time in Spain. The British legends - who famously fought for the UK’s number one slot with their bands Oasis and Blur in the 1990s - are to headline BBK festival in Bilbao this summer. Fortunately on different nights, Liam Gallagher will play under his own name, while Albarn will perform with his new band The Good, the Bad & the Queen. And to add a bit of extra British sizzle to the mix, Radiohead’s Thom Yorke will be on hand to perform his new album Tomorrow's Modern Boxes.

As usual dozens of bands are playing around the Costa Blanca over the next week. Here are some highlights, compiled by Loraine Gostling of Javea Connect.

Upcoming dates Friday March 29 BRIT ICON: Blur’s Damon Albarn

Shooting stars

Music fans are spoilt for choice with BEST EVER list of stars performing in Spain this year

TONY Hadley, Fatboy Slim and Elton John are just three of the amazing acts coming to Spain this summer. The British superstars are joined by Franz Ferdinand, Kings of León and New Order, who are set to headline the Low festival in Benidorm this summer (see left). Meanwhile Iggy Pop, the Cure and the Chemical Brothers land in Madrid, while Oasis stars Noel Gallagher and brother Liam play in the country ON THE VERY SAME DAY in July. Meanwhile, Spain’s biggest music festival FIB has confirmed Fatboy Slim, Kings of León, The 1975 and Franz Ferdinand. The Benicassim festival has just added 12 other new acts for its 25th anniversary edition, including Kodaline, Lana del Rey and George Ezra. Other big names rocking out Spain this summer, include Elton John in Madrid on June 26 and Ed Sheeran, also

13 13

March 28th - April 10th 2019

Benissa: Oceana Club - Robbie Williams Tribute - 19.00 Denia: Lalaland Piano Bar Mr Motown - 20.00 Javea: Botanico - Hangover Tuesday - 20.30 Ammos Opening Night with DJ Jack Ward - 21.30 Llosa de Camacho: Bar Emilio - Inti Cardosa - 20.30 Moraira: Saxo Gardens - Rafa & Janyssa - 18.00 Saturday March 30 Javea: Lancashire Bruja Opening Night with DJ Jim 19.00 Varadero - Roberto! - 20.30 Moraira: Floridita Cocktail Bar - Soulsplosion - 21.30 Saxo Gardens - Mr Pink - 18.00 Sunday March 31 Calpe: Bar Grizzly - Jim Rhodes - 15.30 Denia: Arena Bar - The Mix Jazz Band - 14.30 Orba: Citrus Bar - Happy Freuds - 16.30 Friday April 5

MUSIC ROYALTY: Cook, Elton and Tony Hadley in the capital, on June 11. Another exciting festival in Valencia, 4ever, has confirmed British favourites Keane and Tears for Fears will be playing alongside Spanish giants Los Planetas. At Benidorm’s Low festival on 26 to 28 July New Order (right) are joined by British favourites Foals, Vaccines and Bastille. Madrid’s Mad Cool festival has one of the best line ups to date featuring Bon Iver, The Chemical Brothers, Iggy Pop, the National and the Cure. Former Spandau Ballet

frontman Hadley is to play in Marbella on August 10. He will be joined during the Marbella Music Week by The Jacksons two days before. Other huge draws on the Costa del Sol this summer, include Rod Stewart and The Beach Boys. The California legends will be performing as part of Marbella’s Starl i te Festival, while Stewart stars at Fuengirola’s Marenostrum Castle Park in July. Bob Dylan is also coming to Fuengirola as part of his Never Ending world tour.

Denia: El Commercio - June and Bills Rock Night - 20.00 Moraira: Saxo Gardens - Helena Valkir Trio - 18.00 Saturday April 6 Benissa: Oceana Club, - Manuel Lazaro Bocelli - 19.00 Javea: Digbys - Soggy Bottom Band - 16.30 Moraira: Saxo Gardens - Knot Again - 16.00 Sunday April 7 Benissa: Oceana Club - Frank Abrams - 13.00 Llosa de Camacho: Bar Emilio - Soggy Bottom Band - 16.00 Moraira: Saxo Gardens Acoustic Moon and SWAG 16.00 Orba - Citrus Bar - Moonshine - 19.00

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They did not pass!T March 28th - April 10th 2019

Historian Pedro Corral reveals the gripping truth about how Madrid held on in an extraordinary last-ditch battle over fascism as the Spanish Civil War drew to a close 80 years ago. By Heather Galloway

FIGHTING SPIRIT: No Pasaran rally cry

HERE are no media reports or photographs of the last battle of the Spanish Civil War - a Republican victory not fascist Franco’s - won on the banks of Madrid’s Manzanares River exactly eight decades ago. The Nationalist attack on Republican lines was top secret, unknown even to dictator Franco, and had consequences that the war’s victors have preferred to forget … until now. Only three weeks before the end of the bloody war on April 1, 1939, it perfectly typifies the fighting spirit of the Spanish, who refused to be beaten by a vicious nazi sympathiser. With the city nearly surrounded by the Nationalist enemy, they fought on under one last rallying cry of ‘No Pasaran!’ (They shall not pass) and even took hundreds of prisoners as part of the victory. The story of the battle was naturally buried by the victors of the war,

HEROINE: Dolores ‘La Pasionaria’ Ibarruri

It was an absolute paradox. That the Republicans should have won this battle when the war had all but been won by Franco. Pedro Corral

which saw half a million dead, and quashed the dreams of three vainglorious colonels who wanted to be the first through the gates of the capital after a long three-year siege. According to historian Pedro Corral, the trio, Alberto Caso, Eduardo Losas and Joaquín Rios of the 20th, 16th and 18th divisions had hatched their plan behind Franco’s back. “If they had managed to enter Madrid, Franco would not have ticked them off,” Corral explains. The only clear instructions issued from Franco’s headquarters in Burgos were to enter Madrid WI-

According to Corral, their loss had much to do with the ‘contagious spirit of ‘No pasarán!’, which was coined by celebrated communist leader Dolores Ibarruri, a Spanish heroine well worth celebrating in the month of International Women’s Day. THOUT conflict – probably to avoid “She galvanised the Spanish and a repeat of the Nationalists’ humi- harnessed their passion. ‘They liating defeat there in November, shall not pass!’ she screamed. And 1936. they didn’t!” he “Franco didn’t want says. another propaganthe timing By March 7 the Only da victory for the of the episode Republicans,” he streets of Madrid allowed it to be adds emphatically. swept But ignoring their were filled with conveniently under the carpet. leader’s instrucAnd declarations the bodies of tions the colonels from 19 of the 57 went into battle soldiers Nationalist prisomode and mananers seized by the ged to compound Republicans have the humiliation of been buried for 80 years in the Ci1936 and the later years of inac- vil War Archives in Salamanca. tivity. Only now have they finally seen the

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CULTURA

Send your informa newsdesk@theolive tion to press.es

Courtesy of E. Amade / EL MUNDO

March 28th - April 10th 2019

FEMALE FIGHTER: Mans a post to the east of Madrid overlooking Casa de Campo (Photo by Robert Capa)

light of day. “It was an absolute paradox that the Republicans should have won this battle when the war was all but won by Franco,” says Corral. Indeed, by March 1939, Franco’s troops had taken all of the north of Spain, including the Basque Region and Catalunya and only had a third of Andalucia and Castile, as well as Murcia and Valencia, to seize, plus of course the capital. The three colonels, whose troops were entrenched in the hilly areas west of the city, including Casa de Campo and El Pardo, believed their bid for glory would be a literal walk in the park. Britain and France had declared their support for Franco; food and supplies were running out and moral among the Republican forces, led by communist leader Juan Négrin, could not have been lower. “Négrin thought he could keep the resistance up until the democracies fighting in the war in Europe came to their aid,” says Corral. But Segismundo Casado, who was commanding the Republican Army in 1939, thought otherwise. Deciding the time had come for the

Republicans to lay down their arms, yer from Salamanca, said they expecand with the socialists and anarchists ted a ‘quick end to the war’. on his side, he carried out a coup But the news reaching Franco’s three d’état on March 5, deposing Négrin colonels was false. and setting up the National Defence Despite mostly being conscripts, NéCouncil to see if he could strike a deal grin’s communist forces mustered with Franco. the energy to man two fronts simulThe communists staged a counter taneously, fighting the anarchists on coup however, and by March 7 the one and the Nationalists at bay on streets of Madrid were the other. filled with the bodies Far from a walk in the of the various Repupark, the offensive pro“The courage of ved arduous. blican factions fighting amongst themselves. It El Pardo, the Natiothe Republican In was a disaster. nalist’s 20th division soldiers “The colonels were geattacked the Reputting news from inside blicans under the was really Madrid that the enemy command of Colonel trenches had been deGuillermo Ascanio and impressive” serted,” says Corral. while they reached the Franco Salinas Rico, first line of enemy tren27, a peasant from ches they lost 45 men Logroño, described the upbeat mood with 229 more injured. among the Nationalists to his later Re- In the Casa de Campo, the Nationapublican interrogators. lists’ 16th division lost another 335 In a record from the archives, he said men while 117 were injured and 52 they were in good spirits and ‘believed taken captive. the war would not last much longer as Though the cost was higher, they the Reds were fighting among them- made slightly more headway, advanselves’. cing a kilometre into Republican lines Meanwhile, the declaration of Mar- around the lake, where they were stocelino Alonso Sánchez, 21, a brickla- pped. “I spoke to one high-ranking officer on Franco’s side who told me that from the moment they emerged from their cs politi in st intere Illiterate and no trenches the air that was filled with and myths of lot a Corral who believes bullets,” says Corral. Intriguingly of the 19 statements around up romanticism has grown “It was a deluge, the likes of which taken of the Nationalist prisoners the Spanish Civil War due to propaavailable today, almost all insisted he hadn’t seen in his life and he had ganda generated by the volunteers. they had no interest in politics. spent three years in the war.” who people of full were fronts “The educamost According to Corral, the Less is known about the 18th diviknow even didn’t ted was a man who sion’s Villaverde assault to the south, gun a fire to how could type. The rest but the total cost of the escapade to been had who and were illiterate peathe Nationalists was 94 dead, 364 hauled from their sants and labouinjured and 57 prisoners. villages to fight. rers drafted in from “The courage of the Republicans was who those of Half Andalucia Galicia, in really impressive,” says Corral. drafted were and Extremadura. With their tails between their legs, the either fled or hid. “But by then the That was the civil trio of colonels tried to hide the losfighting soldiers war. It wasn’t two ses from Franco, but were eventually on both sides were ideological blocks. forced into confessing nine days later more than 90% naturally blaming the entire fiasco on conscripts,” says CONSCRIPTS: Soldiers in Madrid It was chaotic.” a Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Lloro,

For Sale For Sale For Sale For Sale For Sale

BATTLE SCENE: The trench network attack at Casa de Campo

Accidental hero Little is known about the curious defection of disgruntled Lieutenant Colonel Ramón Lloro Regales, 33, from Franco’s 16th division who is thought to have warned the enemy of the imminent attack. His actions took place after he had turned up drunk to the meeting on March 7 that the colonels had called to plan the three-pronged offensive on Madrid. Seeing the state he was in, Colonel Losa however, stripped him of his command and told him to await further orders. Infuriated, Lloro promptly deserted and vanished, with Republicans later recalling seeing him walking past their trenches in the early hours of the morning on March 8, advising them to prepare for the assault.

who is said to have defected to the Republicans to warn them a night before the attack (see pull out box). By that time, the battle alone between general Casado and the communists was over with almost 2,000 dead. On March 12, having executed various figures in the communist high command, Casado communicated to Franco that he wanted to negotiate peace. Franco replied on March 19 that he would only accept unconditional surrender and Casado gave the order to disarm on March 27. The following day, Franco’s forces entered the capital, 20 days after the colonels’ bid for glory was thwarted. According to Corral, the trio of colonels and their troops were relegated to the back of the procession down the Paseo de la Castellana and the embarrassing episode was never referred to again. Three days later the entire war was over. Pedro Corral is author of Eso no estaba en mi libro de la Guerra Civil, published by Almuzara.

What’s on Live it up THE Villa Gadea Hotel in Altea hosts the Homes, Gardens & Lifestyle Show on April 5, a two-day bonanza with over 90 stands.

Film fest A NEW LGBTQ+ film festival at the Arniches Institute in Alicante will see screenings and discussions on more than 13 short films from April 1-7.

The king TICKETS are still available for the Sunday Night Finale of the Elvis Festival at Benidorm Palace on April 7.

Going live FROM April 5-6 the Elche Live Music Festival at the Rotonda parque municipal, features some of the hottest acts around, including La Pegatina, SFDK and Shinova.

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March 28th - April 10th 2019

LA CULTURA

Treasure Hunt SPAIN has amassed an impressive collection of treasure over the years, in many cases thanks to the efforts of foreigners. Immigration and colonisation may be dirty words today, but other countries have contributed significantly to Spanish cultural heritage. The most recent example is the Dama de Elche - Spain’s oldest sculpture - which the Mayor of Alicante Carlos Gonzalez has claimed will bring one million tourists to the city if it is returned.

Treasure of El Carambolo A haul containing 21 pieces of crafted gold jewellery and plaques was discovered by Spanish construction workers in the town of Camas, near Sevilla, in 1958. Whether of Tartessian or Phoenician origin, the booty including pendants, bracelets and necklaces hidden in a ceramic vessel - has been dated from between the 7th and 5th centuries BC, making it one of the oldest treasure finds in Spain. Some experts even link it to the legend of the Lost City of Atlantis.

As Alicante’s ancient Dama de Elche bust could return to the city, we round up some more of Spain’s most precious artifacts

Dating back to 5BC, the bust would not be in Spain if it were not for the Vichy Government of France, who gave it to General Franco as a gift in 1941. The Dama is surprisingly one of the many priceless artifacts found abandoned in the countryside around Spain. Others, such as the Treasure of

Guarrazar were dug up between 1858 and 1861 in fields, some 15 kilometres outside Toledo. The huge haul of 20 glittering gold Visigoth crowns, wine goblets and jewel-encrusted crucifixes baffled experts for decades, until archeologist Juan Manuel Rojas revealed that the treasure had in fact been housed in a religious complex.

From the French to the Phoenicians, the Visigoths and Moors, other countries have played a big role in curating the treasures of

PRICELESS: Dama

Spain. Join us on our nationwide tour of the county’s most glittering prizes and read carefully the ‘Buried Treasure’ section of items known to exist but still unrecovered (right). You could be lucky and hit the jackpot for yourself!

Treasure of Gazteluberri

Buried Treasure II Republic’s Gold

In 1960 an old cowbell discovered in the mountains of Gazteluberri in Navarre yielded up its long-kept secret. Hidden inside it were 52 coins made of gold, silver and iron. They represented various monarchs - Juana I, Felipe II and Carlos V - indicating they date from different periods of the 16th century. How they got there remains a tantalising mystery.

Naveta d’Es Tudons

During the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1713) 19 Spanish ships guarded by 23 French ships sailed into the Vigo estuary in Galicia carrying 108 million silver and gold coins destined to fund

The Rande Galleons More recently, during the 2nd Spanish Republic (1931 – 1936), Governor Juan Negrin arranged for truckloads of gold and art treasures to be moved from the Spanish Central Bank to Girona,

Menorca is the place where the oldest tomb in Europe dwells. Resembling a dry stone wall pyramid, it was built circa 1200 and 750 BC. It is presumed to be a collective grave as it contained the remains of at least 100 skeletons, along with bracelets and ceramic and bone buttons on display at the Museu de Menorca in Mahón.

The Missorium of Theodosius I The Hoard of Cheste This haul of gold jewellery and silver coins secreted inside two ceramic pots is one of the most important discoveries in Valencia. The collection was found in 1864 in the town of Cheste and can be seen at the city’s History Museum. Experts believe the hoard may have been hidden during the Second Punic War and date it from around 4BC.

Discovered in Almendralejo, Badajoz in 1847, this elaborate ceremonial silver dish resides today in Madrid’s Royal Academy of History. D a t e d between 388 and 393 AD, it was probably made in Constantinople for the 10th anniversary of Emperor Theodosius I’s coronation, the last Emperor to rule both Eastern and Western Empires.

Do you have a what’s on? Send your informa newsdesk@theolive tion to press.es

Treasure of Villena This is the second biggest hoard of gold from the European Bronze Age after the Royal Tombs of Mycenae. It consists of 59 gold, silver and iron objects with a total weight of nearly 10kgs. The iron pieces are the oldest found in Spain. The collection was discovered in the Valencian city of Villena in 1963. Copies of the priceless originals were made for a touring exhibition which has visited Madrid, Alicante, Tokyo and Kyoto.

Get out your diving gear and metal detectors - these treasures have yet to be claimed

The law of Treasure Trove Is it finders keepers in Spain?

Felipe V’s side of the argument. But Anglo-Dutch pirates attacked them and, after a gruelling battle, made off with 40 million. The rest of the booty still lies in its watery grave waiting to be recovered.

to protect it from fascists, also sending seven trucks to France. Only six arrived at their destination. The missing truck could contain 10 tons of gold but it has never been found.

March 28th - April 10th 2019

Let in the light! Royal salute to Valencia’s Master of Light at first London show for a century HE is known as the ‘Master of Light’ for his wonderful portrayal of iridescent seascapes, gardens and dextrous portraits of people, many of which were painted around the Costa Blanca. So Joaquin Sorolla is bringing a welcome shaft of brightness to London for his first show at the National Gallery in a century. The exhibition, which features dozens of paintings loaned from Spain, was appropriately inaugurated by Spain’s Queen Letizia and

According to Articles 351 and 614 of the Civil Code, a treasure trove belongs to the owner of the land where it was found. If someone else discovers it, they have a right to half its value even if the landowner is the State. But if the treasure is ‘of interest to science and the arts’ the State can acquire it for ‘its fair price’ which opens a whole new can of worms. SEASCAPE: In Javea

By Joshua Parfitt

Prince Charles at its grand opening. The Spanish royal, who would have made the perfect Sorolla model, was appropriately 20 minutes late blaming the London traffic. Her tardiness didn’t however put off Charles who planted a kiss on both cheeks, before escorting her around the exhibition. Hailed as ‘a moment of European unity’ they were both blown away by the masterpieces on display. Sorolla regularly painted around Javea, at the end of the 19th century, because his wife’s sister had a house in nearby Jesus Pobre. Lovers of of his work can match paintings of the Costa Blanca with their present-day bays and headlands, such as Cap Marti. Writing to his wife Clotilde in 1896, Sorolla penned: “This is the place I always dreamed of, sea and mountains. But what a sea!” Alicante filmmaker Rafael Maluenda, who directed the

INSPIRATION: Rocks by Cap Marti while (below) Queen Letizia and Prince Charles at launch

documentary, The journeys of the light, said that Sorolla ‘liked to isolate himself, lose himself on the beach, amongst Javea’s rocks’. Restorers of Sorolla’s work have often found grains of sand from the beach when treating his work.

The last Spanish royal to open an exhibition in London was Infanta Cristina at 2006’s Velazquez show. The exhibition Sorolla: Spanish Master of Light runs until July 7

BUSINESS Scare-port 18

Mar 28th - April 10th 2019

BORDER checks and long delays are set to return for British travellers entering the EU if there is a no-deal Brexit. That’s the warning from the European Commission, which confirmed people entering the union from the UK would have to have their passport stamped each time they entered and left - ensuring their stay did not exceed the 90-day visa-free limit. The Commission also confirmed that British travellers would lose access to the EU lane at border crossings, meaning longer queues.

Trouble

Brits may also be asked by border guards to provide information on the purpose of their visit and means of subsistence during their stay. The news could spell trouble for airports in Spain such as Alicante, Malaga and Mallorca, which receive among the highest amount of British travellers in Europe. It comes a year after the Olive Press exclusively revealed that Alicante-Elche airport had introduced new ‘Brexit barriers’ to cope with the influx of Brits being separated from other European travellers. We also revealed how staff told us they were preparing a ‘Brexit zone’ - with far less shops and eateries - for British travellers post-Brexit.

Mayor blasted for ‘wasting’ €90,000 on marketing to British tourists who don’t leave hotels

A TOWN hall has been blasted for spending €90,000 on a campaign to attract more British tourists - in just four hotels! Calpe’s PP mayor has been criticized for handing the cash to UK firm Jet2Holidays, which specialises in all-inclusive and halfboard packages.

Half-board hazard By Joshua Parfitt

The company is set to spend it on marketing efforts geared around the village of Penyal. The travel firm works directly with four hotels in Calpe, two from the Esme-

New destinations RYANAIR has announced new routes from Alicante to Bordeaux and Munich starting this summer. There will be two weekly flights to the wine-producing capital in southern France, and three to Germany’s second capital. The airline also announced 96,000 extra seats on its 11 pre-existing routes from Alicante, five of which are to the UK. It comes as the Dublin-based operator also revealed that London Southend and Cork will be added to its list of Alicante routes this winter.

relda Group and the Bay and Ifach hotels. Locals fear the all-inclusive packages, which are around €600 per week for half-board, mean not much money is poured back into the local economy. PSOE opponents of the council insist the money

Airport chaos AIRPORTS in Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza could collapse after Brexit, officials have claimed. Concerned workers say the baggage system for non-EU residents won’t be able to cope with the huge number of Brits arriving during the summer season. The fears come as British tourists will soon have to collect their suitcases in a different area. According to the Customs and Excise office of the Balearics, Mallorca’s main airport of Son Sant Joan

in Palma only has 18 conveyor belts for luggage which would be saturated given the arrival of flights from the UK on an hourly basis during peak hours. Miguel Morey, head of the Regional Customs and Excise Unit of the Balearic Islands, said: “There are no infrastructures to deal with this situation. “The airport has 18 belts for luggage, and the British flights are crowded into hourly peaks, so it will be difficult to deal with these situations.”

BLASTED: Calpe mayor

would be better spent on infrastructure projects to improve the town. “It would be much better than giving investments to millionaire friends,” said spokesman Santos Pastor. “Calpe needs to be spending its money on its ageing and unattractive infrastructure.” A video protest shows a series of pavements in need of repair and insists ‘another tourism model is possible’. Jet2Holidays has been contracted to promote Penyal until 2021.

Battling Brexit

TOURISM bosses are remaining optimistic over the threat of Brexit despite a drop in British bookings on the Costa Blanca. There has been a noticeable dip in reservations this year, tourism bosses admitted. A Brexit conference has now agreed that is due to the uncertainty of the situation. Director of Spain’s tourist office in London, Javier Pinares, said the stagnation ‘is due to the current moments of tension’. However he remained optimistic, saying this period of uncertainty will be followed by ‘a new boom.’ Regional Tourism Minister Francesc Colomer, meanwhile labelled Brexit as ‘the greatest failure of the European Union'. She warned the tourism industry to ‘do it’s homework’ and try to improve their tourism models to avoid a negative fallout from Brexit. Benidorm mayor Toni Perez said the city will ‘do what it has always done’ and will ‘reinvent itself to continue being a tourist magnet.’

MODEL: For tourism

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case of death or permanent disability of the person who contracted the mortgage, the insurer will take over the payments to the bank and remove your partner or relatives from the economic responsibility that could be difficult to continue with. In fact, with most banks it is a pre-requisite as a guarantee before signing the mortgage. Until recently, banking entities conditioned their mortgage lending with an ‘obligation’ to contract some linked products, such as Life insurance. But since a few years ago, with the approval of the European Parliament of the Mortgage Credit Directive, banks are prohibited by law from linking a mortgage to the purchase of insurance. You only need that your insurance company includes a clause in your policy registering your lending bank as the mortgage beneficiary. In that way, you comply with the request of the bank but you also save money. You could even save a difference of €700 as the products offered by the bank can be up to 300% more expensive. 2. Starting a family It should be taken into account that raising a child in Spain can be expensive. It has been estimated that a baby can cost 14,266 euros during its first year of life and 14,056 euros during the next two. On average, a child can represent the disbursement of 1,183 euros per month during its first three years, which represents 80.78% of the average monthly net salary of a worker. It will depend on each person’s standard of living, but before the child turns 18 the parents could have spent between €115,000 and €350,000. If at any time one of the parents dies, it will be difficult for the family

to maintain the same rhythm of life. In those cases, although the personal loss will be irreplaceable, life insurance could guarantee the necessary capital to meet family expenses. With Liberty Seguros, even if the insured dies in an accident along with his/her spouse and they have children younger than 18, the beneficiaries will receive double the sum insured. 3. Protect your income level Last year there were 3,796 serious occupational accidents in Spain. Of these, 618 had fatal consequences. The possibility of suffering an accident at work or outside that causes a permanent or temporary disability exists, so it is a wise choice to protect your income level. It will depend on each policy, but the insured can receive an advance payment of the contracted capital in case of temporary or permanent incapacity that prevents them from working and, therefore, affects their income, whether as a result of an accident or illness. In fact, with Liberty Seguros, the insured will be advanced the sum insured for death if he/she is diagnosed with one of the following serious illness or needs one of the following operations: cancer, heart attack, cardiovascular accident, kidney failure, bypass surgery, paralysis and transplant of vital organs, in accordance with the terms established in the special conditions of the policy. With insurance, not only for life, but also car, home, business, commercial, funeral, etc., Liberty Seguros is considered the preferred expat insurer in Spain today. Liberty Seguros has an extensive network of over 300 brokers and agents that are dedicated to providing unbiased, friendly and expert advice, because every home is different and such an important decision deserves a face to face chat with a professional insurance advisor, in your own language, to discuss the most suitable cover for you.

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AGONY Property ANT

March 28th - April 10th 2019

YOUR LEGAL PROBLEMS ADDRESSED BY ANTONIO FLORES

The Future’s bright SPAIN has begun construction of Europe’s largest solar farm. Iberdola’s 500MW Nuñez de Balboa plant in Extremadura will cover 1,100 football fields and will comprise 1.5 million

Cheeky tax paying

panels. Generating enough power for 250,000 people by 2020, it is part of a planned €8 billion investment into clean energy by Iberdola between now and 2022.

In the wake of the Cuatrecasas revelations Lawbird’s Antonio Flores explains the different types of company expenses

Despite Brexit Brits are buying more tiles from Valencia than ever before EXPORTS of tiles and ceramics to the UK pumped more than €14 million into the local Valencia economy in January, new figures have revealed. It comes after the Spanish tile industry saw international exports increase by 4% yearon-year in the first month of 2019, while imports decreased by 15.6%. Over 90% of the country’s tile production is in the Valencia province of Castello, and things are looking up. Despite Brexit, the industry’s exports to Britain increased 14.2% to more than €14.6 million. And more than €200 million was raked in thanks to sales to the US with growth of 22.5%, bringing €21.2 million. France remained the biggest client, with a 5.1% increase in sales pouring €27.3 million into the economy. Germany saw Spanish tile imports increase by 10.5%, as did Italy by 7.8%. The conti-

STUNNING: Brits aren’t deterred from tiles

Tiles ahead nued success of the industry comes after another hugely successful Cevisama tile and ceramics trade show. Held in Valencia every year,

it is the only annual trade show which tracks European trends and continues to put Spain on the map when it comes to tiles and ceramics.

ESS than a week has passed since we learnt that Emilio Cuatrecasas, owner of the largest fiscal advisory firm in Spain, just hired former Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santa Maria. In 2015, Cuatrecasas pleaded guilty to eight counts of tax fraud in exchange for a rather lenient two-year suspended imprisonment suspended - conviction agreed with both the Prosecutor and the State Lawyer, the latter working on direct instructions of Mrs Saenz de Santa Maria, when the PP party was in power. What’s interesting of this case - besides the fairly obvious connection between Cuatrecasas’ favourable court ruling and the hiring of the instigator of such advantageous outcome - is the nature of the tax fraud: deducting personal outlays as company expenses. In this case, it was done in a grand scale where, for example, servants hired for his personal residences or his privately used yacht, electrical appliances, decoration and generally, maintenance of his personal assets, were all introduced in the company balance sheet as deductible expenses. In the end, Cuatrecasas had to pay over €3 million plus €1 million in interest to avoid doing jail time. Spain is no different from any other country when it comes to tax deductible expenses. But what are they? Broadly speaking, they are those deemed helpful and appropriate for a business, as well as necessary and reasonable. More specifically, this what the law says:

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Employees’ salaries and social security, rentals (office or part of a home used to work from) and associated expenses, equipment and supplies, repair and maintenance, stationery, external advisors, VAT (where it is not claimed) and uniforms not susceptible of private use, to name a few. Vehicles not exclusively used for business purposes will be deductible on prorate, with a maximum of 50% (save for cargo, transport and similarly used vehicles which will be 100%). Travel expenses, meals (maximum of 1% of turnover) or Christmas presents can be deducted if they are associated with business and this can be proven when required.

Non-deductible expenses Directors’ salaries, dividends, fines, services provided by people based in a tax haven, guard dogs, clothes (including lawyers’ suits), perfumes, beauty treatments, sunglasses or mobile phones (where it is not possible to show that they are exclusively used for a business purpose), weddings, weekly ‘Mercadona’ personal shopping and many other non-expenses habitually picked up by tax inspectors. Finally, deductible expenses must be provable by means of regular or simplified invoices, as mere receipts will not be valid.

Email Antonio at aflores@lawbird.com

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Deductible expenses

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Mar 28th - April 10th 2019

PROPERTY

Golden acres Alicante villa voted Europe’s best home, writes Laurence Dollimore

Revving to build ONE of Spain’s leading car rental firms is moving into property development. Goldcar’s founders have plans to build a 36-storey skyscraper in Benidorm, it has been revealed. Juan and Pedro Alcaraz, who sold the firm to Europcar for €500 million in 2017, are waiting for a licence to build 220 apartments in the resort. The ambitious project, which will feature padel tennis courts and a private spa, will be in top 10 tallest structures in the Costa Blanca town. House prices will range from €195,000 to €765,000 and 60 have already been pre-sold, according to Alfredo Milla, CEO of Sonneil estate agents, which is managing sales. The skyscraper will be built on the quieter Poniente beach and will also boast a heated pool, gym, two hot tubs, a petanque court and a playground. Aligrupo Global Services, the family business of the Alcaraz brothers, plans to build 500 homes on the Costa Blanca, half of which will be in Benidorm, and others planned for Calpe and elsewhere.

Cheap digs ALICANTE is among the cheapest cities in Spain to rent a property, a report has shown. TecniTasa found that Alicante, Elche, Castellon de la Plana, Almeria and Huelva were the most economic places for renting per square metre. The city boasts a humble rental price of below €2.5 per square metre, making it extremely affordable to students and expats.

Massive

A COSTA BLANCA villa has been named as Europe’s ‘best private residence’. Stunning Villa el Sueño, in Javea, trumped thousands of properties from around the continent that entered the competition. The stunning home, situated high on the Cape Nao headland, won various heats to become the top property in Spain, before scooping Europe’s finest this month in the International Property Awards. The €5 million villa was designed to embrace sunrise views over the Mediterranean sea on one side, and

Barcelona was the city with the highest rents, where properties on the central Paseo de Gracia fetch a massive €36 per square metre. The report estimated that a property of 150 square metres would cost €5,400 per month - which is €150 more than the same property on Madrid’s Calle Serrano, in ritzy Barrio Salamanca, where rents soar to €35 per square metre. The next-most-expensive cities in Spain are Marbella and Malaga, where rents are €22 per square metre, followed by San Sebastian, where they are €21 per square metre, and Las Palmas, where they are €20 per square metre.

sunset views over Granadella beach, the Cap D’Or and the iconic Penyal d’Ifac at Calpe on the other. An infinity pool blurs the barriers between lounge chairs and the sea, while skyframe windows allow the owner to wake up in the mountains. The property is only built from Mediterranean materials such as the creamy travertine limestone, insists its architect Gonzalo Aranguren Miranda, of Miralbo Urbana. “The idea is to help it blend into the stunning rugged countryside,” he explained. “This is an award for Javea not just us!”

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March 28th - April 10th 2019

Buy, buy, baby! PROPERTY sales in Marina Alta grew by 7.1% last year, new figures have revealed. According to the Ministry of Development, the region, which includes Denia, Calpe and Javea, has now enjoyed seven straight years of growth in terms of home sales.

Crash

Some 5,958 homes were sold in the region last year, compared to 5,564 the year before. It is a cumulative increase of 16.8% since 2011. It is still a far cry from the 10,802 sold in 2006, just before the crash, putting to rest fears of a new property bubble.

Authorities take radical step to block thousands of homes on stunning Costa Brava ENVIRONMENTALISTS are delighted with a shock move that has left thousands of owners and developers high and dry on the Costa Brava - at least temporarily. As many as 15,000 new homes and at least two hotels could be affected in the radical ruling by the Girona authorities. The regional planning department has imposed a total stop on all new development covering 2,000 hectares of the stunning stretch of coastline. “It’s an incredibly brave step and well overdue,” insisted a spokesman for green group SOS Costa Blanca. However, local landowners disagree insisting it leaves countless plots of building land virtually

THE Costa del Sol, Costa Brava and Ibiza are continuing to attract wealthy foreign buyers, an international estate agent has confirmed. Increasing numbers of international buyers are coming to Spain’s coasts, according to Lucas Fox. The luxury property agency claims that mid to high-end foreign buyers are being lured to Spain as the second homes market continues to boom. Their reports show that Spain’s most desirable spots saw a 51% rise in the proportion of buyers in 2018. Scandinavian and French people were the most common foreign buyers, making up 86% of that group. “The increase in sales volume on the Costas in 2018 compared with 2017 was much greater than anticipated,” said Lucas Fox partner Tom Maidment.

BEFORE AND AFTER: Costa Brava has been branded overdeveloped while (inset) photo of coast from the 1950s

Bravo for Brava! worthless, both as an investment and even to build homes. A series of mayors have also hit out insisting it will seriously affect the local economy, already badly affected by the Catalan independence issue. The so-called ‘moratorium’ -

even on land zoned as urban and developable - affects 19 of the 22 municipalities on the coast, between Portbou in the north and Blanes in the south. Only the municipalities of Castell-Platja d’Aro, Calonge i Sant Antoni and Castello d’Empuries

Cash magnets

“While some other regions have seen a drop in sales volume in 2018, the likes of the Costa Brava and Costa del Sol seem to have bucked the trend and are attracting a very specific profile of buyer – the wealthy second home lifestyle investor.” He added that Palafrugell and Begur on the Costa Brava, as well as Sitges, have seen the greatest demand for second homes. The price of homes sold in coastal areas has also been rising rising, with Lucas Fox’s average increasing from €951,253 in 2017 to €1,181,724 in 2018 - a 24% increase.

have escaped the ruling. All land within 500 metres of the coast is affected and any development in this strip is immediately suspended if 50% or more of the plot has a gradient of 20 degrees or more. How far the ban reaches inland depends on the municipality but in some areas it stretches kilometers into the interior.

Shelved

The regional authorities have justified the moratorium on the grounds of protecting the landscape in an area bidding for Unesco Biosphere Reserve status. The building freeze has been brought into force while a new Master Urban Plan for the region (Plan Director Urbanístico or PDU) goes through the process of public consultation.

The PDU aims to reorganise urban planning with a stronger focus on environmental sustainability. The most hard-hit municipality is Roses, where some 5,900 new homes are put in jeopardy. The area around the upmarket town of Begur is also seriously affected, with hundreds of projects temporarily shelved. Well-known tourist hotspots like Cadaques, Tossa de Mar, and Sant Feliu de Guixols have also had all new licences suspended. Begur mayor Joan Loureiro blasted Girona for imposing the plan without consulting the municipal authorities. “We wanted a moratorium for problematic areas but they have imposed it on all the territory, and where before there were no problems now there are,” he insisted.

Mar 28th - April 10th 2019

PROPERTY

Legacy Architect of Spain’s largest indoor sports arena scoops this year’s prestigious Pritzker Prize LEAVING HIS MARK: (Left to right) the Domus in A Coruña, Barcelona’s Palau Sant Jordi and the D38 Office in Barcelona

DUMAS

APANESE master builder Arata Isozaki has won the architectural world’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize. The 87-year-old maestro was crowned the winner of the 2019 Pritzker architecture prize for his decades of thought-provoking and original work. Regarded as a visionary who helped foster an architectural dialogue between east and west, Isozaki was behind several projects in Spain including the Palau Sant Jordi, still the largest indoor sports arena in Spain.

He created the 17,960-capacity complex for the 1992 Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona, siting it partially below ground to draw focus to the surrounding hillside. He is also known for designing an inflatable concert hall in Japan. The jury for the Pritzker noted: “In his search for meaningful architecture, he created buildings of great quality that to this day defy categorisations.” Isozaki was born in Oita on the island of Kyushu, in 1931. The 1945 atomic bombing of

ORIGINAL: Inflatable concert hall

nearby Hiroshima had a profound impact on him as a child. “I grew up on ground zero,” he recalled. “It was in complete ruins, and there was no architecture, no buildings and not even a city. “Only barracks

and shelters surrounded me, so, my first experience of architecture was the void of architecture, and I began to consider how people might rebuild their homes and cities.”

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Sticky treat

IT has become a popular sticky treat at Christmas around Spain. Now Alicante’s celebrated turron - or nougat - is to become a regular favourite in America and China too. The delicacy, made from almonds, sugar and egg whites, has become a registered trademark in both countries to protect the product from copycat producers. The US represents 60% of turron exports meaning the legal recognition will help to protect the traditional nature of the chewy confectionery. “We asked for the recognition of the brand 14 years ago, and it was rejected,” said Federico Moncunill, boss of the Jijona and Turron Council. “A couple of years ago we applied again, and the recognition of the registered collective mark has finally been accepted. “This recognition puts us in a stronger position, because although we cannot do anything against brands that are already registered there, we can stop the registration of new ones using our nougat.” First made in Alicante 500 years ago, it has now been recognised across Europe and in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Alicante has a shining star among the five lucky restaurants to win three suns in this year’s Repsol Guide

A RESTAURANT in Alicante is among five to have been awarded three suns in the 40th edition of the coveted Repsol Guide. It was a moment in the sun for Alberto Ferruz, of Bon Amb, in Javea, whose restaurant was celebrated by Repsol for its ‘unclassifiable’ dishes. The outlandish kitchen, which this season is basing its menu on ‘ideological interactions’, is now offering customers a 10% discount to

RECORD: Goat’s cheese

WINNING: Javea’s Alberto Ferruz (left) and the rest of the winners celebrate their award. Ferruz said ‘the obsession to work with ‘the produce of the

Breader than the rest A RESTAURANT in Javea has been selected as the best gluten-free restaurant in Valencia. The Celiac Association (Acecova) has recognised Sur de Xabia, in La Cala de la Granadella, for the second year running.

Fava fever! A TWO-Michelin star chef will be using Benitatxell fava beans to create an inspired tapa at the highly-anticipated food festival starting this weekend. Alberto Ferruz, who runs Bon Amb de Xabia, will present a tapa made with favas from the local farmers at the Mitjafava Fest, running from March 29 until April 7. The festival, in Benitatxell’s Poble Nou, will feature a rock festival, tastings, food stalls, literature and agrotourism stands. The event is designed to celebrate the farmers and the fava crop, which is vital to Benitatxell’s local economy.

land’ is what motivates him. The two Michelin star chef, who also prides himself on using sustainably grown ingredients, combines modern and traditional cooking techniques to curate his restaurant’s unique style.

Stunning

The restaurant, where 80% of the dishes are coeliac-friendly, will now compete with 17 other eateries to be crowned the top gluten-free restaurant in Spain. "We have been working for more than 10 years offering gluten-free options and dedicating a personal attention to the coeliac community", declares Ana Estalrich, co-manager of the restaurant Sur. The nationwide competition will be judged by the Federation of Celiac Associations of Spain (Face). "Seeing the happy face of a celiac when she realises she can trust us excites and encourages us to keep improving day by day," said Estalrich.

Hola Aloha

BENIDORM’S infamous Tiki Beach bar has re-opened after a lengthy legal battle over noise complaints. Following a closure order last September, the owners held out into the thirsty November fiesta week, before closing much to the dismay of tourists. One fan, Kirsha Knowles, 42, said she had visited the bar with her husband, 12-year-old daughter and parents last month. “I was absolutely devastated to see it has closed. Its frontage is covered by big black sheets and workmen are inside,” she said. “The tables and chairs are gone and things are being ripped out.” But a video posted to social media this month showed the Tiki Beach bar was back to normal – except for the name, which has changed to Aloha Beach.

March 28th - April 10th 2019

Gill power ONE of the biggest bluefin tuna ever caught in Spain has gone on sale at the Las Palmas Central Market in Gran Canaria. The 342kg fish, which could be worth worth up to €4,000, was caught by the Montesdeoca brothers as the 2019 Canaries tuna season begins. They will now sell the three metre-long beast at market for €28.9 a kilo, after using a crane to unload their haul from a van. Despite the size of the tuna, the brothers are still way off catching the biggest ever bluefin, which weighed in at 679kg and was caught by Ken Fraser in Canada in 1979.

The restaurant, on the outskirts of Javea sits in a stunning spot, surrounded by olive trees. Also among the Repsol famous five was Maca de Castro, a Mallorcan chef who runs a restaurant of the same name in Port d’Alcudia. Remarkably, the Balearic cook is one of only two wo-

men who currently have three suns, the other being Elena Arzak. Paco Morales of Noor in Cordoba also won three suns, awarded for cuisine which draws on the inspirations of ‘Al-Andalus’. The Cordoba-born chef, who opened restaurant Noor in 2016, has an impressive CV, including a Michelin star and a training background with Spanish culinary legend Ferran Adria at El Bulli. In this anniversary edition of the Repsol Guide, held at foodie hotspot San Sebastian, 53 new chefs are given recognition.

One of a rind

THE biggest goat’s cheese in Spain has been created in Gran Canaria, tipping the scales at 174kg - enough to satisfy Monster Mouse. Quesos Bolanos is the family firm behind the Titanic-sized truckle which was produced using 1,200 litres of milk and is also the largest cheese ever made in the region. A Valencian company commissioned the cheese, which will now be sold off in portions in November once the 11-month maturing phase is over. The super-sized dairy creation even earnt Quesos Bolanos a visit from Agriculture Minister Narvay Quintero, who described them as ‘pioneering’.

FOOD,DRINK &

March 28th - April 10th 2019

Hop, hop, hurrah! A LOCAL brewery has scooped bronze at one of the biggest competitions in Europe. De Barra, brewed by Denia-based Cervezas De, came third at the Barcelona Beer Challenge. The light, aromatic tipple, which has a lower alcohol content, claimed the prize in the Kolsch category. "It is a pride to have obtained such a valuable prize. A bronze in a festival in which there are more than 1,112 beers is very appreciated," said CEO Augustin Zaragoza. “Everything indicates that we are well on our way with our project. I hope in the future to improve

our brand and make our beers reach even further. " The Barcelona Beer Challenge is part of the Barcelona Beer Festival, the largest of its kind in Spain and one of the most popular in Europe, attracting more than 50,000 people. Some 218 breweries took part in the challenge with 1,112 beers from 22 different countries vying for medals. Kolsch is a style of beer first brewed in Cologne, Germany, and is unusual because although it is warm fermented with ale yeast, it is later conditioned at cold temperatures like a lager.

Brexit food map

Brexit means Brexit for the fresh Spanish produce making its way to the UK, writes Charlie Smith

Galicia - fish

PROTESTORS: Green groups against development

Boiling water Three Michelin star chef set to battle ecologists over new restaurant at beauty spot

THE Costa del Sol’s most famous chef could find himself in boiling water over plans to open a restaurant in one of Andalucia’s best protected areas. Marbella’s three Michelin starred chef Dani Garcia is likely to find opposition to his plans to build a chiringuito at a spot on the Costa de la Luz, in Cadiz where a development was stopped last year. The beach bar, planned for Tarifa’s Valdevaqueros beach as part of the Eolo project, was given the green light by Tarifa Council and Mayor Francisco Ruiz in 2017. But environmentalists managed to halt the plans, claiming that protected species would be threatened, including otters, black-footed plover and osprey. It led to the company to pull out, with the mayor slamming the ecologists for destroying the project. “Our mayor, a biologist by profession, lives in another world: one without empathy for the environment,” Rosmarie Hennecke-Gramatzki of green group Equo said. Along with political party Podemos, the organisation alle-

ROLLING UP SLEEVES: Dani Garcia ges that the ambitious beachside plans do not comply with the EU’s ‘habitat directive’ of 1992. But Ruiz hit back, saying that the Eolo project had been developed, ‘following the law scrupulously’.

Scrupulously

Garcia is now believed to have taken over the project with local unnamed backers and may brand it a ‘BiBo’ restaurant, like the ones he has in Marbella and Madrid. He is expected to construct the ‘temporary’ restaurant on the 372 square metre plot, over the next couple of months. It will be open by the summer and will have enough space for 400 car parking spaces. Tarifa’s mayor insisted the project ‘respected the local environment’ adding that it was ‘not permanent’. “We are very satisfied with the difference between the two projects,” he said.

If the UK leaves the EU with a hard Brexit, the Galician fishermen employed by the UK could be forced to leave British waters immediately. Around 66 Galician boats operate in the Gran Sol, west of the UK, and another 30 Galician-manned UK vessels in the EU could be prevented from docking at European ports come B-day. Around 1,700 jobs in Galicia hang in the balance, while the economic blow could be €500m to an area that provides octopus, shrimp, crab, lobster and more to the UK.

Guijuelo, Salamanca - jamon iberico The UK Government has said 13% of Spain’s products could be subject to import tariffs under a no-deal Brexit, including jamon iberico at €10.2 per 100 kilos imported. Guijuelo is among four denominations of origin recognised by the EU for jamon iberico production. The others are D.O.P. Jabugo (Huelva), D.O.P. Los Pedroches (Cordoba) and D.O.P. Dehesa de Extremadura (Caceres and Badajoz). The D.O.P. Jamón de Guijuelo area is responsible for 60% of Spain’s jamon iberico. Across the country, there are around 30 million pigs being reared at one time, with the pork industry worth about €6bn annually.

Huelva - strawberries and soft fruit More than 85% of all of Spain’s strawberry exports are grown in the province, worth a total of €437m in 2018. The UK is the second biggest market for Huelva’s soft fruit, having imported 16% of the area’s strawberries, 34% of it raspberries and 26% of its blueberries in 2018. The main Brexit worry in the province is ‘border hold-ups’, according to Rafael Dominguez, manager of Freshuelva, the industry association for Huelva’s strawberry market.

Balearic Islands - almonds

Last season, between August and October, Spain produced around 60,000 tonnes of almonds, with the majority from Ibiza and Mallorca. On Mallorca alone there are estimated to be 5 million almond trees, covering 55,000 hectares of land. A study by the Institute of

Agro-food Quality of the Balearic Islands found that 52.4% of almond consumers said that Mallorcan almonds were a superior quality to other types, most respondents citing rich taste as the reason. Tariffs could damage farmers.

TRAVEL RED wine, cheese, cured meat...they’re just the obvious ones. Spain exports a wealth of fantastic produce to the world, and especially to the UK - €4 bn-worth if we’re counting. When the British Isles shiver - which is often - the population relies on a harvest-load of fruit and veg from Spain. But Brexit looks set to seriously threaten UK imports, affecting everyone from hipster London ‘foodie’ enclaves to budget supermarket vegetable aisles. Waiting times at borders, import tariffs and working restrictions could all see the inflow of Spanish food and drink into Britain dwindle to a trickle. The decline was already in motion in the months following the 2016 EU referendum. In the first year after the vote, sales of Spanish goods to Britain fell by 6%. According to the Bank of Spain the ‘agri-food’ sector, along

March 28th - April 10th 2019 with car manufacturing, represented almost half of the overall decline in sales. Things look even worse when you delve into what an increasingly likely no-deal Brexit would mean for food crossing the border. A National Audit Office report found that customs declarations would have to increase from 55million to 255million and at least 145,000 traders would have to declare for the first time. While customs trouble and border delays may not destroy long-lasting Spanish gems like wine and jamon, perishable items like fresh berries and salads are in real danger. However Luis Planas, Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food said a royal decree protected Spanish food, despite warnings that food safety and quality could decrease after Brexit.

The minister said he expected Brexit to be ‘as least traumatic as possible’ for the EU and the UK once it leaves the 27-nation bloc. But the cost of products would definitely ‘increase’, according to the Organisation of Entities of the Andalucian Social Food Economy. Of Spain’s 17 autonomous communities, Andalucia - known as the ‘garden of Spain’ growing produce as diverse as mangos and avocados, - would be the region worst-hit, especially as the UK is its fourth-largest customer. The next would be Murcia, which sends thousands of tonnes of salad to the UK every year would. Alicante is also badly affected. Here, we round up the Brexit clouds hanging over the Spanish regions putting food and drink on British tables.

La Rioja - wine North of Madrid, this tiny region ships more vino to the UK than any other wine-producing area of Europe. From January to October in 2018, its wineries sold 32 million litres of the good stuff to the British market. This came before news that the Spanish Wine Federation had advised producers on how to deal with Brexit, telling firms to ensure wine is correctly labelled and make advanced travel plans. It then emerged that one winery, Bodegas Riojanas had already completed 90% of its trade for the first half of 2019 ahead of Brexit.

Castilla-La Mancha - manchego The UK is the third biggest importer of Spanish Manchego after the US and Germany, buying around 1 million kilos a year, according to the Regulatory Council of Manchego cheese. But the cheese is definitely under threat from Brexit after the British Retail Consortium revealed its price had risen sharply since the UK’s decision to leave the EU. UK managing director of Arla Foods, Ash Amirahmadi, warned that specialist cheeses like Manchego which have limited production could become ‘very scarce’ after Brexit. Also, last April, the EU failed to grant Spanish Manchego farmers protected status following their hard-fought battle with Mexico. The country has retained the rights to make the cheese, despite not using sheep’s milk like the Spanish version.

Alicante oranges and lemons

Murcia - lettuce, celery, broccoli, lemons, melon, grapes This small region is a food industry powerhouse, providing 32% of the UK’s fruit and veg imports, but it would be the Spanish region second most affected by Brexit after Andalucia, according to consultancy firm Oliver Wyman. This percentage increases during winter, when up to 80% of the fresh produce sold in the UK comes from Murcia. Over 517,000 tonnes of fresh produce, costing €580m, made their way from Murcia to the UK in 2018, with 400 lorries full of food making the journey every week.

The total agricultural output of the province exceeds 1.4 million tonnes, while its speciality is citrus fruit, 60% of which comes from the Vega Baja area. Fruit trees account for 31,391 hectares of the 131,389 total devoted to agriculture in the province. Business manager of fruit and veg firm Caja Rural Central, Juan Vicente Gonzalez, confirmed that while his firm is expanding in Alicante, Brexit does pose ‘instability’ for the region.

Mar 28th - April 10th 2019

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

Fit for an Englishman

Eye on Madrid

Madrid’s born-again Gran Hotel Ingles is the lap of Belle Epoque luxury, discovers Olive Press editor Jon Clarke

T was once one of Madrid’s ritziest places to stay, serving up high-class hospitality to the likes of Virginia Woolf, Henri Matisse and the arty set. But somewhere along the line the Gran Hotel Ingles lost its pizazz, eventually falling into disrepair and

RELAXING: Roll top baths

lived in by squatters a decade ago. So it is a joy that Madrid’s oldest and most distinguished hotel has been brought back to life after a ravishing €17 million refit. Downsized from an original 72 rooms to a boutique 48, making them effectively suites, this 1886 gem oozes the elegance of a bygone age and its central location makes it a great choice for a long weekend in Madrid. Romantic in the extreme, it has hung on to its elegant Belle Epoque interiors but now with a dash of Art Deco in the mix. The seductive lobby sets the scene and you really imagine yourself sliding into one of the wide banquette booths and ordering a Singapore Sling while being offered a freshly-ironed copy of the Herald Tribune or London Times. Many original features have been

ELEGANCE: The grand lobby and some premium guests including Matisse and Virginia Woolf

saved, from time-faded photos of guests to vintage postcards and an ancient typewriter by the lifts. The original iron pillars soar up to reconstructed wall mouldings extended across the ceiling, creating a pattern resembling electric circuits. Our handsome young bartender quizzed us on tastes and zipped off to produce a cocktail to match our moods. The rooms are equally sumptuous although understated, nothing fancy - unless you count the top quality linens (500 thread-count Egyptian, don’t you know) and, in many, dreamy roll-top baths. The Lobo 8 restaurant is the place to wolf down a hearty breakfast, well-lit and with an enticing choice

WELL LIT: Great start to the day in Lobo 8

- perfect for starting the day, although the Eggs Benedict were not quite the best I’ve ever tasted. With a Barrio de las Letras address - the intellectual home of Madrid - you are a short walk from from everything, including The Prado and Plaza Mayor (five minutes). But what is perhaps most commendable about the Gran Hotel In-

gles is the staff, who make guests feel relaxed and at home. They are there the moment you need them, and not when you don’t. Now, that’s what I expect from a good capital city five star! C/ Echegaray, 8 - 28014 Madrid www.granhotelingles.com (+34) 91 360 00 01

And here’s a trio of interesting things to do in Madrid this Spring, and a restaurant tip (above right):

A museum Done the Prado and the Thyssen? Seen Sorolla and Guernica? How about the Museum of San Isidro, a relatively new showcase on the origins of the city and its saint. Filling a 16th century townhouse, it houses three floors of exhibits from the days of the Visigoths, Muslims and Mammoths.

A stroll Take a walk from here into Madrid de las Austrias, which skirts around the bottom of Plaza Mayor. Taking its name from the days of the Habsburg dynasty, it’s a dreamscape of stunning buildings and interesting shops. The street, Cava Baja, has maybe two dozen excellent (and very busy) places to eat on weekends.

March 28th - April 10th 2019

3 CHEF: Cesar Martin

La la Lakasa

T A marvel TO BEHOLD Few people bother to visit Madrid’s Sistine Chapel, a work of art undertaken by Spain’s very own Michelangelo, Francisco Goya, in the 18th century. Down by the much improved Manzanares river area of the city, the dome and interior of San Antonio de La Florida chapel was painted in just 120 days and depicts a murdered man being brought back to life. It is coincidentally also where the painter is buried (minus his head!). Entrance is free and if you time it right (let’s say, lunch time) you might get it all to yourself.

ake a French maiden and a local Madrileno grafter and you get this wonderful new spot, Lakasa. While a little out of the way, it emerges as a stylish and original addition to the fast burgeoning Madrid restaurant scene. Cesar Martin has been a jobbing chef in the capital for years, now finally out on his own, with his girlfriend Marina, from Brittany, out front. It has a cool look with its vertical green wall partitions and an equally hip reggae-jazz fusion soundtrack on the speakers. Its main USP is that every one of its two dozen or so dishes come in a half portion, meaning for food freaks like me, you can have double the number! The mackerel in curry sau-

LUXURY: Diners enjoy a noght at Lakasa (above) and (right) some of Martin’s remarkable dishes

ce and the artichokes with pork belly were two good picks. I also got to finally try Lampreys, in a cress sauce. Now they are something else. To look at, too... There are also loads of wines by the glass, and thanks to Marina, a superb cider from Calvados. Restaurante Lakasa www.lakasa.es Plaza del Descubridor Diego de Ordás, 1 28003 Madrid, Spain Phone: +34 915 33 87 15

ARE YOU A UK NAT ONAL LIVING IN SPAIN? As the UK prepares to leave the EU, there may be changes that affect you. From residency rights, to work and pensions and local healthcare, you can find the latest information in the UK Government’s Living in Spain Guide. Sign up for email alerts and get the latest information at gov.uk/living-in-spain

Mar 28th - April 10th 2019 ALL new vehicles in Europe must have an Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system installed by 2022, the EU has ruled. The system automatically stops the car if it detects an obstacle while travelling at 60km/h or under and is designed to tackle road deaths. The measure will be mandatory for manufacturers to obtain the ‘Euro NCAP Five Star Range’ rating, the

MOTORS

Safety first

highest car safety standard within the EU. The AEB uses cameras and radars placed behind the windshield, rearview mirror and the front grill and bumper. The system will notify the driver of an obstacle and will emergency brake the car itself if they fail to take action.

New weapons THE Jeep Compass has been chosen as the new official vehicle for the Guardia Civil. Spain’s armed security force received 140 brand new units of the 4x4, which will soon be rolled out on a national level. The medium-sized SUV will first be sent to small towns or villages where bad weather and rocky roads are more common.

The joint venture between Jeep and the Guardia Civil started back in 2016, when the manufacturer provided the institution with a fleet of Jeep Grand Cherokees.

At what cost

A UK watchdog has ordered a Benidorm car hire firm to reveal its hidden costs after widespread complaints. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) told Centauro, which is headquartered in the city, to tell customers about charges. Another smaller Spanish rental company Record Go was also warned it had to release information, following allegations that both firms ‘misled’ customers. Centauro operates 22,000 cars in Spain, while Record Go has around 10,000 vehicles in Malaga and the Balearic Islands. Despite agreeing to make the changes, neither company admitted to any wrongdoing, and both refused to comment on the move.

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SUBARU XV 4x4 Auto 2.0 GLP / LPG Year 2015 2000cc, 150 hp Automatic, Hybrid (Gas) 89,000 km

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Vintage luxury car maker returns with fully electric €1.5 million model A LUXURY Spanish car brand has released its first model since 1968 and it has the motor world talking. Hispano Suiza, a favourite of the royal family, released ‘Carmen’ this month, a lightweight supercar built mostly from carbon fibre and powered entirely by electricity. The stunning vehicle, which has 1,005 bhp and can accelerate to 62mph in under three seconds, was revealed at the Geneva Motor Show last week and has a price tag of €1.5 million. Measuring 4.7m in length, the two-seater car uses batteries used in Forumla E, a motor racing division which uses only electric-powered cars, and has a speed limit of 155mph. “We limit the top speed because we don't think there's sense SEAT has also presented its first fully electrical car. The groundbreaking elBorn, which will hit the streets in 2020, has been developed and designed in Barcelona, and following the tradition of other signature models, like the Ibiza, Leon or Malaga, it takes its name from the El Born neighborhood in Barcelona. The Spanish connection ends there, since it will

ROYAL PLEASER: Carmen

in any more,” Technical director Luci Marti told Top Gear. The car weighs just 1,690kg thanks to its lightweight material in the interior and carbonfibre in its frames. According to Hispano Suiza,

Rebirth II

be manufactured at the Volkswagen factory in Zwickau, in Germany, un-

the new model is said to be one of the most 'carbonfibre-intense cars in the world'. Miguel Suqué Mateu, the great grandson of the founder and current president of Hispano Suiza Fábrica de Automóviles like other SEAT models, which are currently assembled at the Martorell factory in Catalunya. The car will be capable of travelling 420 km on a full battery and is also capable of recharging its batteries fully in just 47 minutes, thanks to its 100kw power. It will also be equipped with assistance technologies - helping you drive and park - giving it a Grade 2 in Autonomous car criteria.

FORD C-Max 2.0 Titanium Year 2012 2000cc, 140 hp Manual, Diesel 108,000 km

FIAT Fiorino Qubo1.3 MJT Dynamic E5+Combi Year 2015 1300cc, 75 hp Manual, Diesel

FORD Kuga 2.0 TDCi Trend 2WD 4x2 Year 2009 2000cc, 135 hp Manual, Diesel 92,000 km

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SMART Forfour 52 Passion Year 2014 900cc, 70 hp Manual, Petrol 56,000 km

S.A. said: “Succeeding in realising a dream we had for years, seeing once again the Hispano Suiza on the road, all around the world. “Back in 1900, when Hispano Suiza started, it built the first electric car in the world, but the prototype was never industrially manufactured. “Now, 119 years later, in March 2019, Hispano Suiza has its first 100% electric car, offering great performance and manufactured in Barcelona, the realisation of my great grandfather's dream.”

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KAMIKAZES Merging onto roads like the A-7 is not always the easiest task. Having to swerve into 100km/ hr traffic takes timing and accuracy – but many haven’t got the memo. A day will rarely go by without you having to slam the brakes and yell ‘estas loco?!’ – complete with tutting and furious head nodding – as a driver slowly edges onto the motorway, forcing you to brake hard or swerve to the left.

SUMMER DRIVERS As the temperatures heat up, so do expats’ tempers as the ‘summer drivers’ – holidaymakers – return in full force. They are easy to identify – a rental car sticker, inability to stay in their lanes and a person in the passenger seat pointing at or trying to read signs while slowing down to an almost complete stop at roundabouts. Still, at least they indicate!

Drivers from

hell

March 28th - April 10th 2019

DOUBLE PARKERS There’s a special place in hell for those who park their car alongside legally parked cars and put on their hazards while they go for lunch or to the bank. Cue furious horn beeping when other drivers return to find their cars blocked in. A cacophony loud enough to wake the dead continues until the offender appears some 20 minutes later, with an apology if you’re lucky. Some drivers also think it’s acceptable to park up on roundabouts, often right before the exit – cheers pal, not in the way at all there!

JENGA HEROES

There are certain types of motorists you come to expect on the Costa’s carreteras, writes Laurence Dollimore

ET’S face it, driving on the Costa del Sol is not without its challenges. Soon after negotiating your first rotunda or motorway slip road you’ll notice there are certain ‘elements’ on the

If you’ve ever wondered whether you can fit all your worldly possessions on top of your car, no worries … you can! From sofas to bikes and suitcases full of clothes, just a few flimsy strings and belts will be enough to strap every precarious item to the roof of your vehicle, even when travelling at speed, sending the fear of God into every other road user in your slipstream. Just ask Spanish police who are still looking for a suspected builder who strapped 20 wooden boards to his roof.

highways and byways that will not be changing anytime soon. Ranging from slightly annoying to genuinely life-threatening, we’ve rounded up the seven most typical drivers.

BLIND BUS DRIVERS LOOK AT ME! They’re rich and you know it. Mostly because it’s their fifth lap of Puerto Banus in that red Ferrari and they’re still not sick of the attention. Symptoms displayed by these look-at-me types include booming foreign rap or dance music and severe growling of the engine… Making up for something, lads?

Is poor eyesight a requirement for being a Spanish bus driver? It wouldn’t be a surprise, given that every 30 seconds a car is nearly rammed into oblivion by a bus leaving its stop along the A-7 (not official

figures). You would think this dogged attitude is to make sure the buses arrive on time…. It’s not. Buses are just bigger. The drivers do it because they can. If you see a bus ahead, get into the fast lane pronto.

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Mar 28th - April 10th 2019

COLUMNISTS

Kicking off a new column, Loraine Gostling AKA ‘LOL’ of Javea Connect promises to steer clear of Brexit….well, almost

OW most of you reading this will have been ‘lolling’ for years - firstly, back when it became cool to abbreviate every possible word to make sure a quick text message was sent to the love of your life before your boss walked in and caught you on your new shiny - and incredibly heavy - Motorola flip phone. This ‘LOL’ was, for the lovesick but lazy folk, a very handy acronym for ‘lots of love’. Thereafter, much confusion arose when some bright spark decided that ‘LOL’ actually means ‘laugh out loud’. The main problem with this new ‘Lollerism’ was that much confusion ensued in the transition period and people took a while to realise that they were not loved at all, but just plain

The original ‘LOL’ GetTING ConnectED By Loraine Gostling

funny. But these abbreviations, however useful, were not originals, because in fact, the original LOL is me! Me being, Loraine (yes with just one ‘R’ as my mum was never the greatest when it came to spelling). I was named after some obscure film star back in the day, when all phones were attached to walls, petrol came in gallons, the TV had a total of two channels to choose from and a tablet was what you were given to stop you being car sick! ‘Nothing wrong with that name’, I hear you say, and I would agree and all

THE NOVAS RETURN After a period of inactivity up on what some of the locals call Walton’s Mountain, I was delighted to find out that the restaurant (previously known at La Guardia) plus the Lounge bar at the rear, on Costa Nova in Javea, is about to re-open in super style. At the helm of this extensive venue called Novas Restaurant and Lounge, on Calle La Guardia, is Paul Kingham, who as many know, was, until recently, the vibrant owner of Moo on the Arenal playa. He will be serving up a new menu and organising an abundance of varied weekly entertainment plus, of course, he will be there serving up delicious cocktails.

Licence clock is ticking

Residents here on the Costa Blanca will know (or should know) that their driving licences need to be changed over to Spanish licences, if you have not already done so. And be prepared… it’s anything but easy. was fine, UNTIL, at the age of around two, an obscure family member, who couldn’t pronounce her ‘RRRs’ decided to call me ‘Lollipop’ instead! And so my fate was sealed... I was now ‘Lollipop’, and these damn things are sticky! Gradually, as time went by, I was abbreviated to ‘Lolly’. Eventually, my dad must have taken a look at this very plain and quite podgy 10 year old about to go to secondary school and took pity on me. Clearly not enough pity to actually reinstate the name he and my mum had given me, but I was, at last, being fashionably abbreviated to ‘LOL’. So there you have it... I was the original, fat, freckled and frustrated ‘LOL’! Now that you have had your history lesson, I will fill you in with the reason I am even here in this first edition of The Costa Blanca Olive Press. Some of you may have heard the name of Javea Connect being bandied about now and again if you are local to that particular part of our Costa. Well I am actually ‘Ms J.C’ the founder of the Facebook group, Page and website and I have been graciously invited by Jon Clarke, the editor of the Olive Press, to say a few words of Lolling wisdom from time to time, in the hope that I can offer a Light-hear ted , Original Look (LOL for short!) at life here in our little haven in Spain. What I can promise is that my features will be mainly tongue in cheek, hopefully amusing and an entirely Brexit Free zone (mostly!). Email me at loraine@javeaconnect.co.uk

LOL’S Whinge of the Week

Brexstress I know I said I would not mention the ‘B’ word BUT I have to say that the whole Parliamentary Gala Performance is taking its toll on me. My 20,000 members have been going at it hammers and tongs since Theresa May’s angry speech last week, with both sides fighting to convince the other they are wrong or misinformed. Sunday in particular was ruined by the phone pinging constantly with disgruntled people’s messages asking that I remove or delete comments or close off discussions on the subject! Talk about Brexstress. Thank god for Senor Larios for keeping me sane.

Across: 8 Ukraine, 9 Tiara, 10 Uncle, 11 Unaware, 12 Bass drum, 15 John, 17 Atop, 18 Feminist, 21 Bottles, 23 Knife, 25 Sight, 26 Benefit.

Down: 1 Suburb, 2 Croc, 3 Limeade, 4 Menu, 5 Steam, 6 Macaroni, 7 Cave in, 13 Shortage, 14 Use, 16 Sinking, 17 Ambush, 19 Treaty, 20 Slate, 22 Sobs, 24 Info.

Real Bale

The

SPORT

After being criticised for his lack of Spanish language and cultural participation, Gareth Bale has remained a controversial British expat, but Pablo Balbontin reveals 10 things you may not know about the Real Madrid star

He has two daughters with Spanish names. Five-year-old Alba, which means ‘dawn’ en Español, and Nava, 2, whose name comes from the Basque word naba - meaning a ‘treeless plateau’ or open space next to a mountain. He also has a son, Axel Charles, who was born in Madrid on May 8 this year.

Unlike many of us expats who love a caña - or few - in the sun, Bale is strictly teetotal and for obvious reasons, doesn’t smoke either. He is engaged to his girlfriend Emma Rhys-Jones, who he has known since he was 11 years old.

Unlike many of his colleagues, he is not a big fan hitting up the Spanish fiestas ‘till the break of dawn. He prefers to stay at home playing video games or watching films.

He lives with his family in the exclusive La Finca urbanisation, in the upmarket Pozuelo de Alarcón, district of Madrid. The pricey dwelling boasts famous neighbours like Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos.

STUNNER: ‘Chilena’ at cup final

He rarely speaks in Spanish - although he gave his first full interview in the language in 2017 - but not because he does not know, he simply doesn’t feel confident enough to use it yet. Although that didn’t stop former Real Madrid coach John Toshack from calling him ‘disrespectful’ for not having learnt the lingo.

To get his mind off the beautiful game, Bale loves to go swinging - at golf clubs that is. He even built a golf course in his back garden in Wales. But when in Spain, he prefers golfing hotspots like Finca Cortesin in Casares.

But what else does Britain’s most famous expat do with his money? Well, following the likes of Ronaldo and Messi, he puts it into hospitality. Bale has opened several restaurants and bars, including Eleven’s Bar & Grill in Cardiff.

Bale is known for his generosity and earlier this year bought his sister-in-law a new car and a €285,000 home in Cardiff after her husband tragically committed suicide.

Like most footballers, he has a vrooming passion for cars. His Madrid pad is home to a Mercedes SLS AMG, Lamborghini Huracán and a Ferrari GTC4Lusso.

Saving race A GLOBAL sailing race will start in Alicante from 2021, it has been announced. The Ocean Race, previously known as the Whitbread Round the World Race and the Volvo Ocean Race has been re-launched in the city. Two classes of boat will race at the rebranded competition in two years time: the IMOCA 60s and the VO65.

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Like any other expat, he loves food and good weather. His favourite spots to eat in the capital include Michelin-starred El Filandón and the 30-year-running Mesón Txistu.

Managing Director Johan Salen said it is a ‘big moment’ for the race, which is now under new ownership. “We are excited to be moving forward with a new identity that reflects the best of our heritage human ambition, technology, competition and teamwork while adding in new elements, like our core focus on sustainability,” he added.

Batman battle Challenger accepted

E was the hero of the UEFA Champions League Final in Kiev, scoring what was quickly labelled as one of the best goals in the history of the competition. It was a stunning chilena - or bicycle kick - that sent fans around the world to their feet. But off the football pitch, Bale has led a quiet life in Spain, but also one that has drawn criticism from his teammates. Since moving to Real Madrid in 2013, the Welshman has kept a low profile, and not taken part in many aspects of Spanish life, like eating late at night and speaking the language. Here are 10 facts about his life in Spain that you might not know.

March 28th - April 10th 2019

ALICANTE has been announced as a new location of the ATP Challenger Tour in 2019. The Academia de Tenis Ferrer in Xabia will host the tennis competition, from 30 September to 6 October, with a total prize money of €46,600. Other key stages of this year’s ATP Challenger Tour, include Mallorca (August) and Murcia (April).

A ROW has erupted between Valencia football club and DC Comics over the use of their new bat logo. It came after Valencia released a centenary logo on its 100th birthday which DC Comics claims is almost identical to the iconic Batman symbol. The US publishing house has now submitted a complaint to the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). Valencia argues it has used the bat - a mammal typical to the area - as a symbol since 1921, while DC created Batman in 1939. “We are not going to stop using the bat because DC Comics says so,” insisted a club spokesperson. “There is no commercial brand that has a worldwide exclusive on bats.”

Banana twit

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A school chef has been jailed for six months in Alicante after holding a banana to his crotch and asking a female kitchen assistant to ‘look at my banana’. The Filipina denounced him after three months of further sexual harassment.

expat paper in Spain

FINAL WORDS

Slip up A BRITISH man was trapped in an empty swimming pool at his home in Guardamar del Segura after he slipped over while trying to clean it. Seven firefighters and three fire engines were dispatched to rescue the man, who was described as ‘corpulent’.

Muchamierda STUDENTS at Muchamiel high school have refused to enter their classes after an indefinite strike by unpaid cleaners has left a growing mess. Placards at a sit-in proclaimed ‘this is Muchamiel, not Muchamierda Instituto’.

Dead honest A 34-year-old man who stole a hearse explained to police after his arrest that he just ‘wanted to get out of Murcia’.

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Battle launched against marauding pigeons putting off diners in Alicante ALICANTE has declared war on pesky pigeons stealing food and spilling drinks on restaurant customers. The town hall has vowed to capture as many of the birds as possible in a bid to stop the numbers getting ‘out of control’.

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March 28th - April 10th 2019

Top Trumps

CLUCK OFF EXCLUSIVE By Laurence Dollimore

It will also install more awnings and lamp posts along the Explanada seafront over the next few weeks to make it harder for the pigeons to access tables. Bar and restaurant owners, meanwhile, have placed water sprays on tables to help

White out

THE same seagulls that aggressively colonised the Penon de Ifach in Calpe have now been seen spreading their white waste upon Javea’s Tango area. The yellow-footed seagulls are not native, and are displacing the native Audouin's gull, local ornithologists warn. After taking over the Penon de Ifach, the gulls have moved up the coast colonising the castle of Denia and now the marine reserve of Cap de Sant Antoni. The birds’ excrement leaves a white coloration upon rocks and has prompted complaints among businesses in Calpe.

THE dust has more than settled on the famous Fallas festival in Valencia. But one image is expected to be remembered for years. The burning of the effigy of a naked Donald Trump in Valencia’s streets a fortnight ago was met with raucous cheering. It was even more popular than ones of Adolf Hitler, Josef Stalin and Francisco Franco burnt alongside him. The festival celebrating the patron saint of carpenters dates back to the 18th century, and was recognised in 2016 as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage.

Holy phallus! DISTURBED: Diner battling pigeon in Alicante diners scare the pests away. “They have no fear of flying onto people’s tables while they are eating and take food from their plates,” complained one business owner. “The other day one swooped down and knocked a client’s beer all over him, he was furious!” The birds are also leaving the awnings of businesses ‘cove-

red in excrement’ and have even defecated on customers. “More than once people have told me they will not sit down because of the pigeons,” another business owner said. The town hall added that removing the birds from the area was also a matter of health and safety given that these types of pigeons can often be sick and can carry parasites.

PROTESTERS have slammed a new play entitled God has a vagina. A group of Catholics prayed with rosary beads outside the Matadero centre in Madrid as the show was being performed. The production by the theater collective Vertebro features actors performing naked in reenactments of religious and cultural traditions.

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